Why do the Sabres fans think the Neil hit was late?

Answer 1

I'll be honest. I'm not a Chris Neil or Ottawa fan, but his check on Drury was within game rules. I have no idea where other people are getting the 3 or 4 seconds (I would guess 0.5-0.6) or the 5 stride thing. Undertow has it correct, it's called finishing a check. As for intent to injure? Only 1 person knows if there was intent, and that is Neil. Drury also didn't have his helmet on properly, which may have had an effect on him as well. It seems at least 60% of players do not wish to wear their helmets to get the maximum protection from them. It is getting tiring that Lindy Ruff is always complaining of teams using the rules to their advantage. After the check the other night, he was ballistic, cursing and swearing that it was an elbow (not that it was late). He seemed to back off those allegations (must have been after he actually saw a replay). All last season in the playoffs it was teams diving (according to him). Also, may be important to add that Neil has contributed offensively the past 2 seasons, with 16 goals last year and 10 so far this campaign. When I look at Peters' stats, I see he has 1 goal in 45 games this year, and 3 goals in 115 career games to go along with his more than 3 penalty minutes per game. So at least Neil can back up physical play with some offensive numbers, which is more than Peters can say. However, both of their roles are the same for their teams, and that is the physical presence on the ice.

Answer 2

I'm not a Sabre fan and I though it was late. If a linebacker waited that long to hit a quarterback in football he would have been hit with a 15 yard penalty. He had time to stop himself after it was clear Drury no longer had the puck. Not only did Neil still lay the hit on him, he didn't even try to pull up at all. I'm not down on Neil, I still think he's a good player and I still like him, but that was a late hit.

Answer 3

I love the 'expert' hockey fans on here.
First, the hit was legal and NOT late. Neil was already on his way to check Drury. If you ever played hockey you can't stop in 3 seconds. Neil is 6' Drury 5-10, he hit him with a shoulder and the experts have already stated that Drury DID NOT have his helmet on properly (he's famous for that) and any hit would dislodge his helmet. The injury was caused when he fell to the ice. If it was a Sabre's player hitting someone else, Sabre fans would be saying exactly what most sens fans are saying.
By the way the real cheap shots are the Buffalo player who went after the sens goalie and the Sabre players that started the brawl.
If you can't take a hit get out of the game, or play smart and keep your head up.
Would you so called experts say Scott Stevens was a goon? How many guys did he hit and hurt? All because they had their heads down.

Answer 4

Because it was a late hit, Drury had already gotten rid of the puck and Neil came across ice to hit him. Drury wasn't even Neil's man. Drury had passed the puck and was looking at the play, he didn't even see Neil coming at him. It was a late, dirty hit and Neil should have gotten more than 5 minutes for fighting with Stafford.

I spoke with people who were at the game and they all agree that it was a late hit by Neil.

Answer 5

it is not only the buffalo fans that think it was a late hit.we are a house divided,my husband is a sabres fan and i am a redwings fan and i still think it was a late hit.i watch a lot of hockey and there were announcers to 2 other games that said it was a late hit. all the articles i have read on it have said that chris neil blindsided chris drury. nhl.com had posted an article on chris neil the day of the hit about how he used to be an agitator and how he has now improved on his game blah blah blah,i noticed that article was pulled immediately after the game,i wander if that says anything?i know there is hard hitting in hockey and that is one of the reasons i watch it but when you intentionally hit to hurt someone it needs to be dealt with. did you see they way the senators supposedly hard hitters were taunting brierre before saturday nights game? sure they won saturday night but they were pretty much playing an all rookie team,guess that made their defeat feel really big!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

Just to clarify. "Bufsabres" fan said he thought the hit was Point 4. Not 4 seconds and that he felt that wasn't very late.

A lot of the replays are being shown in slow motion which exaggerates the time. There was nothing wrong with the hit.

If you watch the replay of Ruff complaining to the refs after the hit. He's pointing to his elbow. Telling them Neil illegally elbowed Drury.
Later between periods He would have found out that it wasn't illegal, but since he had sent out the goon squad to e had to say something to justify his overreacting.

Here's something kind of ironic. Back in 1980 Ruff went after the Islanders Billy Smith in a playoff game after Smith had whacked him with his goal stick.

Answer 7

Because there was no reason to level Drury EXCEPT to hurt him. By the way, despite all the rumblings about Ruff sending goons out to take after skilled players, the only skilled player to be injured, and seriously, was Chris Drury---by the Senators acknowledged goon, Chris Neil.

The problem is the NHL, not the Sens or Neil (although I know that Lindy Ruff would not approve of a player blindsiding a skilled player for the sole purpose of trying to hurt him). Last year's hit on Umberger by Campbell was a great hit because it was a perfectly timed hit that prevented Umberger from advancing up the ice with the puck. And I think everyone would have liked to see Umberger back in the game right away. But Neil's hit on Drury served no purpose (Drury wasn't going for a rebound) except to flatten him and hurt him.

The NHL is operating in the dark ages. The NFL, far more successful and with a fan base the NHL can only dream of, has taken great measures to prevent head injuries. But the overwhelming response by Sens fans (and Don Cherry) to a potentially career ending hit that served no real purpose is "great hit...that's hockey". Yes, it was legal within the rules of the NHL. THAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM.

Answer 8

It WAS late. Look at it again. Drury takes a shot, a second or 2 later, Neil could of been called for interference, charging, or roughing. I don't blame Ruff for sending out Pat Kaleta, Adam Mair, Andrew Peters, Toni Lydman, and Henrik Tallinder to go after Spezza and Heatley. This is just called sticking up for your teammates. Neil should get a few game suspension, and a fine along with it. It wasn't an elbow, but it was late.

Answer 9

Not so much late but definitely a cheap shot late definitely a cheap shot .Someone in Buffalo should run immediately to the GM's office and make a deal for Georges Laraque (how about Laraque and Cujo for Biron). It was pretty obvious in the rematch when Neil ran Mair and goaded him into a scrap they need another tough guy. Guarantee if Laraque's on the bench the whole team will grow a foot!

Answer 10

because they are lacking in knowledgse about the game...The hit came after the shot but not very long after and well within limits....quite frankly Mr. Drury should pay attention..

Colin Campbell agrees, it has been reviewed by the leage and no action will be taken against Mr. Neil ( that is what they said..) Mr. Ruff on the other hand was fined $10,000 for sending out the so called goons to pick on the sens "star" players, who by the way are way better than anything Buffalo has.......so, ultimately the Sabres were at fault for everything...

and by the way, Neil is not a goon, he can fight as we all know, but he can also score goals which is his primary job...it helps that he leads the league in checks....he is great fun to watch