Has the Detroit/Calgary game gotten blown out of proportion?

Question

I was as upset as anyone while it was happening, but was it really that bad? Yeah, Calgary did take some cheap shots out there, but I think it looked a lot worse than it really was. The three biggest parts that people are complaining about was the McLennan slash, the Iginla "butt-end", and the Langkow uppercut. In all of those plays, Calgary was obviously trying to hurt their opponent, but there wasnt really any intent to injure. Noodles intentionaly got Franzen in the mid section, and there was no way he hit him hard enough to break anything. There also wasnt a good chance that Iginla was going to do any damage with that hit, and Langkows punch was just that, a punch in the face. That happens every game. I think the reason this stuff is being talked about so much is that it was all so obvious and it didnt look like Clagary was even trying to hide what they were doing. Dont get me wrong, Im not saying what Calgary did wasnt messed up, but we've all seen a lot worse.

First of all, there is a differance between trying to hurt someone and trying to injure someone. If my buddy steals a beer from me and I punch him in the arm, Im trying to hurt him. If I grab his arm and twist it until it pops, then Im trying to injure him. You can inflict pain on someone yet not do any real damage to the body, thats the differance.

Now Im not making excuses for what McLennan did, he screwed up and he should be punished. The thing is though, goalies slash people every game. The differance here is that he did it so long after the whistle and made it extremely obvious. Franzen even admited that it didnt really hurt, it just surprised him.

Now, if he was trying to injure Franzen, why would he go for the mid section? Why not the face? Why not hook his legs out from under? He already made it obvious, so why not get a better swing behind the stick? Because he wasnt trying to injure, just inflict pain to get people to stop charging the net.

Answer 1

Its nice to sing a Wings fan trying to be objective. Good on you.

I thought Lebda's hit on Langkow was much much worse. That's a low hit and low hits are illegal. It just ironic that he's the one got injured. Langkow's so-called "sucker punch" was no worse than you see in any playoff game. If that was a sucker punch, than Gary Roberts should have been suspended like 10 times in the Ottawa series. (ie, it does not deserve a suspension).

The McLennan slash was bad, no doubt, but it was hard to tell with the three angles, I guess they couldn't show an angle on the right hand side where the view is not blocked by the net. To me, it looked like Frazen embellished (not dove, embellished) the hit. And that's a discusting display. I have no doubt that this is all over the American news stations -- thanks to Frazen. However, that does not make a slash any better. McLennan should only be suspended for 5 game - not that it matters.

That Iginla hit also wasn't that horrible. Part of every NHL game out there. Detroit fans should know that. And its not like the Wings have been angels themselves. Its just now that there's more attention.

There has been far worse plays in the Nashville series.

Answer 2

Ya, I think it has been blown a little out of proportion. It's just McLennan's cheap shot that relaly raised eyebrows I think. Now you have every Wings fan saying we're all cheap and that we're hopelessly savages basically lol. It is kind of funny I guess, but not really.

As for Langkow. If I got low bridged like that I would punch the guy in the face to. He deserved that, that was CHEAP against Langkow. Detroit I think has been just as cheap as Calgary has been, except for McLennan's slash. Game 6 should be interesting, and I'm excited. Hopefully the flames can put it back to Detroit in 7 and hope for the best.

Answer 3

Sorry, but trying to "Hurt" your opponent is trying to injure them!! It was obvious that McLennan was aiming for the Mid section, but how about you put on some cheesy shoulder pads and I two hand a Heavy a$s Goalie stick to your ribs! Then, you can tell me how hurt you are if you don't have a couple broken or bruised bad ribs!! The sad part about it is Detroit Could have been out a player, why the back up keeper who means nothing to Calgary anyway has nothing to lose!! The Langkow shot was understandable. He got hit low and I'd be pissed too, but he didn't get a Penalty for it so it doesn't matter. He should have stood Lebda up and just fought him instead of Cheap shoting him. I didn't see the butt-end shot at all so no comments on that one, but I'm sure it was sure it was on purpose to try to get Detroit off there game and feed more fuel to fire Calgary ended up burning them selves in!

Answer 4

I am sick of political correctness, this isn't figure skating. If someone tries to get under another players skin then so be it. Good for you, being a fan of the team taking the brunt of it and still seeing it for what it is. I'll add that even if there was an intent to injure, in some cases it is a (heaven forbid I say this) smart move (oh no, not hurt somebody). If you can have Joe Nobody take out a star player and let him take his suspension then it is somewhat genius and I don't see the cruelty of an overpaid player getting hurt playing a contact sport.
Jaques Demers (former coach) has said that early in a playoff series he would often "suggest" that his goons "crash the net" on an opposing star goalie and if they take a penalty early for it then it is OK and if the opposing goalie gets hurt it is even more OK. He was the only coach with the balls to say what is what.
Also, it can change a series in your favor. Look at the 72' Summit Series when the Russians were skating circles around the Canadians and Bobby Clarke went and broke their best players ankle, anyone who knows hockey, knows that Clarke was a bigger star in that series than Paul Henderson.
I also remember the Sportsnet commentator (can't believe his name is eluding me) running Grant Fuhr a few years back and putting him out. Nick Kypreos, that's it.

Answer 5

If you're trying to hurt your opponent, then your intent is to injure. Langkow's punch was a blatant cheap shot that he got away with, and McClennan's shot at Franzen was after the play had ended and will probably get him a suspension.

Calgary basically played the role of sore losers in the last 10 minutes yesterday, and it came off as very unprofessional, even for a hockey team. The league needs to hand down some hefty fines to let it be known that that stuff isn't called for.

Answer 6

You people kill me with the Bertuzzi, pile on game. Your going to make a guys career, on one stupid incident. Lebdas hit, was a good old fashion hip check. If Phanuef put that hit on Cleary, I would have found it just as good of a hit. Its just a lost art, in a game where everyone chooses to headhunt now. Iginla, you cant really tell there was a butt-end, it looked suspicious,, but thats not enough to bounce a guy. The goalie, an IDIOT. But who cares about him, he isnt going to play anyway. As far a Langkow, thats probably about the only punch he ahs thrown in his career, so how can you expect him to be a man, and do it face to face. This is playoff hockey, if you dont have the stomach for it, thats your problem, but this is how it is, and has always been. Youpeople should have seen hockey, 30 years ago, I was only 7, but watched some unbelievable stuff, even 20 years ago, when the Wings started getting better. There where some nasty serise with Toronto, Chicago, St. Louis, Edmonton. Thats was hockey, dirty, yet still done with a form of respect,

Answer 7

You've seen a lot worse. That's fine. All of those situations were blown out of proportion as well. BUT - Inserting a player to inflict damage happens every game. Doing it with the goalie is A LOT different than doing it with a Joe Kocur or a Bob Probert. All you're doing is putting a player out there that won't be out there at all the rest of the playoffs.

There is no rule against this, but public scrutiny and Detroit's response next game should answer that. McLennan should be suspended for more than "a game" as you said. And it was intent to injure. That was a criminally chargable act... Premeditated and malicious intent

Answer 8

its not blown out of proportion...McLennan hit Franzen with his stick a total of 4 times in the18 seconds he was out there( 3 times in the legs and 1 time in the chest) Iginla the TEAM CAPTAIN hit schneider with the "butt-end" right in the ribs but the langkow uppercut isnt really being talked about as much. Calgary was out to injure detroit and iginla said it himself. McLennans shot to the mid-section could rupture/damage organs break ribs..along with Iginlas shot could very well have broken a few ribs. they were out to injure someone there was no doubt about that

Answer 9

well the punch to the guy's head was exagerated, when your team is up 4-1 with 5 minutes left in the game, you DONT low bridge another player, its just uncalled for.

The Iginla thing is another thing that will go unpunished, I dont see him getting suspended for that.

The McLennan thing was the only thing I think will get a suspension, which is kinda stupid because he is the backup, but I think Playfair will also be fined, and seeing as how he's heading out the door, he should be saving his money.

So I think it has been over exagerated, and there will be only 1 suspension, but I guarantee that if anyone comes out with the intent to injure on either team in game 6, then there will be suspensions handed out, and probably big ones too (10+ games)

Answer 10

Terry and Stevenson did not mock an sickness and damage however Stevenson proved correct reason Wade's damage used to be definitely no longer severe. And the Heated had been celebrating all playoffs, in advance. And one participant celebrating is not a party. Just like within the NFL, you do not get a penalty for doing a TD dance, you get it for an immoderate workforce party. LeBron and Wade are classless.