Awful Optics

REUTERS

Carolina's Scott Walker swings at Boston's Aaron Ward.

It's the same old hockey story played over and over and over.

One team falls behind by three or four goals. In the final minutes, the sore losers, in an attempt to either "set a tone" for the next meeting or actually injure an opponent or two, load up on the cheap shots. Some see this as manliness, intelligent people see it for the chicken-hearted display it is.

We've been seeing it through the NHL post-season, with face washes and punches in the hundreds of scrums that are allowed to take place after virtually every whistle.

Yesterday, we saw more of it, and in games that were blowouts.

First, in the dying seconds of the Anaheim-Detroit game with the Wings ahead 4-1, Ducks defenceman Sheldon Brookbank, normally tethered to go no further than the opponents blueline, swooped in all the way to the faceoff dot and crosschecked Detroit centre Darren Helm to the ice.

There was a penalty called as time expired, but what did it matter? Game was over, Brookbank got his free shot in and everybody says, "That's hockey."

Later, in a more serious incident, Carolina's Scott Walker cold-cocked Boston defenceman Aaron Ward in the final moments of what was a 4-0 Bruins victory.

The picture says it all. There's Ward, with his hands by his sides, and there's Walker, with his glove off ready to pop his opponent with a punch that may or may not have broken Ward's orbital bone.

If it's during a hard-fought game, the incident never happens. But the game was out of hand, Walker didn't like the treatment Ward was giving Matt Cullen and he knew it was free cheap shot time.

Will the league do anything? Its sounds unlikely, although there will be a hearing on the matter today in New York. In fact - you're gonna love this - the league will probably RESCIND part of the in-game punishment handed down to Walker for the instigator penalty he received.

So it may not just be that Walker won't be suspended. He may be partially vindicated, with some of the 17 penalty minutes he was given taken away.

Basically, the thinking may be that it was up to Ward to defend himself, not up to Walker to restrain himself.

Hard to believe, but that's where this may be headed. Moreover, Ward and Helm both showed that the players on the team that is winning a lopsided game basically become pinatas for the sore losers on the other side.

Solution? Well, if Brookbank had to serve his two-minute minor to start Game 6 in Anaheim tomorrow, do you think his own coach, Randy Carlyle, would allow him to get away with his cheap shot?

Walker got his 17 minutes worth of penalties with only 2:47 left in the third period. What if he had to serve those penalties at the start of Game 6 in Raleigh tomorrow night?

This we know. Suspensions don't seem to slow these guys down.

Comments

[Marijan Kalman]

Chara and Lucic for 5 games are clubbering people all over the ice and not one of you mention their thuggery.To avoid these kind of sitations first you put Chara and Lucic out of games, then Walker gets punished with 50 games and everything is ok.Regarding Brookbank you have to find COACH $500.000 and player for listening to idiot coach 20 games,let's see how many incidents like this we will have in the future.

[Chris Moltisano]

You know Damien, sure it might have been a cheap shot. But what was Ward doing confronting the guy and doing nothing?
And what offends me more then this supposed cheap shot is players diving all over the ice whenever they feel a stick near them. A guy like Malkin is the biggest diver in the league.
If you ask me diving is more of a p-ssy move then hitting someobdy in a fight. Bettman has to address the diving issue before the game becomes a total joke.

[Chris P.]

Meh, thats hockey.

[Derek Flack]

This is prejudicial and, quite frankly, pathetic "journalism." That Cox is so vague about the "treatment" Ward was giving Cullen reveals that this is yet another piece in his anti-fighting crusade. Watching the first 10-15 seconds of the video, it's clear that Ward punches/crosschecks Cullen in the facial/head area, and looks like he wants to continue jostling. The minute that Walker arrives, of course, he's not so keen. But it doesn't really matter. I agree that the NHL is a joke on matters like these, but this one-sided depiction of the event is an utter embarrassment for both the writer and the publication.

[Billie Smith]

Walker did the right thing, that is Hockey. Ward was jawing at him and he was game until he got popped. Players these days do too much talking and not enough action. Face washing, and sticking during scrums is for wimps, pure and simple. If Ward is mouthing off and confirms that he wants to go then that's all that Walker needs to know. It's Wards' fault he couldn't drop his gloves fast enough.

Good for Walker, he is quick and Ward paid the price for being a wanna be tough guy by talking a good talk, and being too slow.

It's a bit like the O K Corral, and Walker dropped him.

[Geoff]

Tim Thomas called it the worst sucker punch he's ever seen. Tim Thomas obviously doesn't watch any Chara fights. Chara uses his long reach to get in plenty of cheap shot upper cuts once the refs have already stepped in to break up his fights. Those are cheap shots.

What the heck was Ward doing anyway? I mean really, the one guy drops his gloves and he didn't even flinch? Not to say this wasn't a cheap blow, because it was, but it looks much worse when you consider the victim didn't do anything to protect himself.

[scottd]

Damien, Must be great to pull out the same story year after year, just change the date, and get paid for writing it! Maybe if Bettman paid more attention to this kind of bush league spectacle then the NHL might become more popular than bowling in Phoenix. Can I just mention Bret Hulls non-goal too just to rub it in?

[Seamus Ling]

Ward really deserved that sucker punch. He's a dirty player who dives all the time. When he's touched he goes down like he's been shot only to pop back up and play his next shift.

He's a dirty player who deserves all that's coming to him.

[Paul Spanier]

(RE: Ward Puch) Why is it that after many plays in hockey (NHL) players seemingly have to touch each other? You don't see this in basketball, baseball, or football. When a play is dead, isn't it dead? You knew something like this was going to happen (Ward Punch) eventually, and something worse will happen if vigilante justice contunies to be OK in the good ol' NHL. It's totally barbaric, and not part of the game/play- it's over- go back to your bench or line up for the face off.

[husband]

absolutely right. penalty time in the third period in a playoff series should carry over into the next game. even my wife said this makes sense

[David Hutchison]

I suppose it wouldn't happen in a million years - but having a penalty carry over to the next game in a playoff series is a fantastic idea.

[Bold Bravado]

Hey Damien, For the record, we're suspending Ward's "Man-card" until he deserves it back. The picture does tell 1000 words.
God forbid someone sticking up for themselves!!!

[sk88ts]

There is a great story about a fight between Terry O'Reilly and Ryan Walter. Walter got the better of O'Reilly and was prepared to wallop him when O'Reilly told him his shoulder was dislocated, Walter let up and didn't hit him. Needless to say that was back when men played and brought with them some sense of honor with the lowest form. Yes you can argue that Ward should protect himself but as noted in the story above the adversary is just as culpable if the one you are fighting is not fighting back.

[B M]

Please Damian, stop this. Every punch, every (legal) hit, every facewash, every time ANY emotion is displayed in the game of hockey.....you put your personal agenda on display. The fact of the matter is the NHL has finally allowed real hockey in these playoffs. Once again, we're seeing physical battles on the ice which was sorely missing throughout the regular season.

We've seen fantastic hockey since the playoffs began and you only focus on how to create controversy.

[Confused]

Damien... You are starting to sound like a woman. First, Scott Walker isn't exactly your team enforcer. However, Aaron Ward is the team "agitator". Do you ever think that this could have been something that was boiling over for more than just the last few minutes of the game? Hockey is a hard played emotional game (Play-offs especially) Who know's what Ward may have done to cause that. I don't see players skating around trying to beat on Datsuyk or Crosby after the whistles. You are forgetting that everyone is pushing that little bit harder, and things like that will happen. I'm sure your outburst maybe the same if i walked around your office and gave you a little sitck here and there and annoyed the heck out of you.

[B M]

And secondly, please do not assume I somehow lack "intelligence". Your entire anti-tough hockey argument is based upon the presumption that your side is "intelligent" (above - "intelligent see it for..."). Given this, I must assume my side of the discussion is deemed 'unintelligent'. I've also heard your generalizations with Bobcat many many times, those in disagreement with your position are called "lugheads" "neanderthals' & "knuckle-draggers", which would be unacceptable for a journalist anywhere but in the world of sport.

Regardless of your ethics, because you crinch when somebody gets a punch in the face, this does not make your argument intelligent. Injuries are part of a contact sport.

I love fast north-south hockey, with plenty of flow & scoring chances, but if you remove emotion from the game (which you advocate) .... hockey simply becomes lifeless.

[2nd Guess]

Don't know if you caught John Garrett last night on Sportsnet, saying that Ward was trying to get Walker suspended -- I think he was serious!

What WAS Ward thinking? I suspect he saw Walker drop the gloves as a challenge, and by leaving his gloves on and arms down, responded that he wasn't biting. Walker, clearly, wasn't waiting to see if his partner wanted to dance before taking the lead.

So which part of "the code" should have applied? The part where you have to defend yourself? Or the part where you establish that both combatants are willing to fight before throwing punches? Most of the "expert" commentary always seems to come down on the side that involves the least amount of supplemental discipline -- so, incredible as it seems, you'll see, hear and read a lot of support for Walker during the next 24 hours.

[Ryan]

Enough Cox!! Thats hockey!! Though im not surprised that this type of tough hockey offends the king..no queen, of the sensitives.

[Pension Plan Puppets]

"Some see this as manliness, intelligent people see it for the chicken-hearted display it is."

Damien, don't try to equate people supporting fighting with them supporting cheap shots. It's disingenuous at best and lying at worst. Your suggestion to have players serve their penalties at the beginning of the next matchup is interesting but, in my opinion, ultimately unworkable.

The better solution would be to have the league's disciplinarian show some backbone with his suspensions as well as some common sense. Sadly, that's probably about as likely as you making a fair portrayal of the advocates of fighting.

[D Claveau]

If I recall, back when the Leafs were making the playoffs... Tie Domi got in a fight in the weaning minutes of an NHL playoff game and drew a suspension taller than he was and the Leafs took a prompt exit afterward... Why does the NHL try to pamper teams now? I guess it's just another attempt to keep fans in the seats, because we all know that playoff hockey isn't exciting enough to draw in crowds.. right.

[Eric, Wayne PA]

I'm not a fan of either team but I am a hockey fan and I'm tired of watching all the after the whistle garbage that has been allowed to go on during these playoffs. Perhaps it is time for the league to consider handing out penalties that equal the crime if the offense is deemed as intentional (which this act most certainly was). For example if Ward is out for any length of time, Walker should be out for the same length of time. Perhaps this will get players to think twice about their actions and bring a little respect back to the ice. Short of that (and perhaps both) I'm all for your approach to let the penalties carry forward to the next game.

[matt]

Preach it, Damien! I don't mind the odd scrum and a few psuhes here and there after a whistle, but these kind of shenanigans are just blockheads being blockheads. I love the idea of in the playoffs you have to serve the penalty you incurred at the end of the following game.

[TO725]

4-0 with a minute left in the game means you should, at least, be ready for "something". You don't have to fight but at least be aware.

[Seamus Ling]

To Eric from Wayne PA:

If the penalty to Walker were to equal Ward's 'injury' Walker would have played the next shift. Aaron 'Hospital' Ward is a well known diver. He makes Claude Lemieux look honourable.

[Rick]

Why is this OK on the ice, but not on the street?