Comments on: Pacioretty faces Shanahan hearing over Letang hit

By: Coach K

Coach K — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:35:37 +0000

That foot stomping comment is a load of BS. I admit he skates weird, but he’s isn’t a dirty player.

By: Coach K

Coach K — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:33:03 +0000

Before you continue to crucify Montrealers, it was a handful of dingbats that called the police on the Chara incident.

If you look at the situation, here are the factors:

1. Letang leaned into his shot, and changed the position of his head (Not convinced)
2. Initial contact was with the shoulder then head on the follow through (Too close to call)
3. Pacioretty came from the blindside. (Clear violation of Rule 48)

Also, remember that Letang came back to score the game winner in OT.

Given all that, I’d say Max gets 1 or 2 games, since he’s a first time offender.

That being said, it took a lot of class for Pacioretty to apologize to Letang on the spot and make sure he was okay. Unlike, Chara, who continued to follow the puck, Pacioretty stopped to see if the player was okay.

And from what I understand, Pacioretty is still waiting for a phone call or text, which Chara said he would do.

By: mmmpierogi

mmmpierogi — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:08:27 +0000

I’ve not seen the hit since last night when I watched the game. However, things that were clear in the multiple replays from last night were:
(a) there was a camera angle where it is fairly clear that Pacioretty’s elbow comes up toward Letang’s head on the hit;
(b) there is little-to-no contact between Pacioretty and any other part of Letang’s body (i.e., most-to-all of the contact is between Pacioretty’s shoulder and elbow on Letang’s head), and;
(c) there is little last-second movement on the part of Letang that puts Letang’s head into a position where one could argue that Pacioretty had incidental contact on Letang.

To be fair, the hit by Pacioretty was not overly flagrant or appear to represent some egregious form of targeting Letang. However, it’s also clear that Pacioretty was not being careful and put a hit on Letang that could have resulted in a worse injury than it did.

…while Shanny’s at it, maybe he should start looking at how Subban goes around stomping on guy’s lower legs and feet with his blades. I’m a fan of guys who play the agitator role and think Subban does a good job at it, but that’s total bush league.

By: stakex

stakex — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:56:24 +0000

Everyone seems to be missing the fact that Pacioretty actually makes contact with the shoulder first, and there is no elbow or clear targeting of the head. Remember, the rule book does not say you can’t make contact with the head…. but that it can’t be the principle point of contact, which this wasn’t. So I really have no idea why there is a hearing over this hit. Im no Pacioretty fan (or Montreal as a whole for that matter) but this hit, while nasty, looks perfectly clean.

By: elvispocomo

elvispocomo — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:42:57 +0000

Pacioretty needs to be better in how he hits Letang there – he comes in too high and misses most of the shoulder – but I don’t agree it’s a blindside. When Letang comes into the zone he’s actually looking at the area Pacioretty comes from and then he lowers his head and tries for the shot rather than avoid the incoming contact.

If you consider that as well, and how Shanny has ruled on other plays where the player being hit changes their angle just prior to the hit, I think we won’t see a suspension. It’ll certainly depend on how Pacioretty explains it, since Shanny’s also taken that into account at hearings, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t get anything.

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:08:56 +0000

They investigated Chara for five months. They won’t say a word about this. Montreal fans and the Quebec government are whiners and frauds. Not surprising that the dirt bag is blaming Letanh.

By: sf49erguy

sf49erguy — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:19:59 +0000

haha. yeah the Montreal cry babies won’t be so vocal about this hit. maybe they’ll riot if he’s suspended…

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:10:36 +0000

Maybe the Quebec DA should have a hearing on assault and battery charges. Pacioretty plays on the edge. For his own safe being, he should stay away from stanchions.