In Other New NHL News...

- Donald Brashear has a reputation and NHL referees are not afraid to make calls based on it.

Thursday night, Brashear was whistled for a tripping call when replays showed his stick was at least four feet away from a Lightning player's skates when he fell.

This Saturday night, Brashear was whistled for roughing for a shove to the chest of Islander Brendan Witt. Brashear was promptly slapped with another minor misconduct for having too much to say to referee Rob Shick.

Both of these calls are indicative of the direction the NHL would like its game to go in. A Hockey Night commentator mentioned earlier this evening that expansion to Europe could be conceiveable in five years. I'd argue we are already there with the way the game is played and refereed these days.

- Cam Janssen was hit a three game suspension from the league for his hit on Tomas Kaberle. I must be starting to think like Colin Campbell these days because I called three games earlier today... scary. Let's face it, Janssen's hit was late. I also think the damage done should not be a factor in the way suspensions are given. I don't think it was in this case.

Campbell's one-liner... "Supplemental discipline is appropriate for this incident because of the lateness of the hit," said NHL senior executive vice president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell.

I must also note that my request for a suspension to the other four Leafs on the ice at the time of the hit was denied by the league. I was thinking a minimum of ten games for not sticking up for their fallen teammate.

- Yet another pro-fighting article... this time from SLAM Sports. A couple hard hitting quotes:

"You ask the skill players and almost to a man they want to eliminate the instigator rule completely," said Marty McSorley, who had a big hand in keeping the Edmonton Oilers safe and secure on their way to Stanley Cup titles in 1987 and 1988.

"The enforcers don't bother them, they look after them, and the instigator penalty makes that harder to do."

"It's a big necessity. It's imperative," said McSorley. "You can't have third-line players going on the ice to try and bring Sidney Crosby's talent level down. Your great players can't get beat up for 82 games. You just can't let it happen.

"I know that's what the new rules are supposed to do, but let's not kid ourselves - the rules can't govern the game totally."

Not when one of the most dangerous elements in the NHL today, one that's sent more players to
the infirmary than anything else, is the perfectly legal hit.

And many of them, thanks to the instigator rule and a post-lockout decline in enforcers, spend entire shifts ignoring the puck and hitting to hurt.

Now, teams are scraping players off the ice every week, and there is nothing the league can do about it. It's pale consolation when you lose someone to a legal head shot instead of a cheap shot.

Janssen Rocks Kaberle... Sends him to Hospital

Last night in New Jersey, rugged winger Cam Janssen leveled the Leafs top defenseman, Tomas Kaberle, with an open ice hit, sending him to the hospital. Playing the puck in his own zone, Kaberle had just finished making a pass up ice with Janssen hit him at full speed, his shouldering connecting to Kaberle's head. Kaberle hit the ice and spun into the boards and hit his head again. After laying motionless for a few minutes, Kaberle began to move, but still required a stretcher to take him from the ice. Full video of the incident is here coutesy of Youtube.

There was no penalty on the play.

The hit was late. The Chris Neil hit on Chris Drury comes to mind. But this was a bit later than that. Kaberle, like Drury, had his head down and he got caught off guard. Look for Colin Campbell to step in on this one for a suspension of some sort.

The incident had another similarity to the Sens/Sabres melee that occured last week. Leaf head coach Paul Maurice did not dress their tough guy Wade Belak just as Brian Murray did not have Brian McGratton in the lineup when Neil smoked Drury. The similarities abruptly end there.

While attention today will be on no penalty being called, I cannot help but point out that not one single Maple Leaf responded to their fallen teammate. All of the Leafs on the ice skated right passed Janssen without batting an eyelash. Even Travis Green, who was very near to Janssen and will fight on occasion, did not have an ill word for the Devil's tough guy. Simply put, the Leafs players should be embarrassed for not defending their top defenseman. I can only imagine what Kaberle will think when he sees the video of the hit and the lack of response from his teammates. The Sabres responded and they have been praised countless times for sticking together. Even Washington Capitals defenseman, Shoane Morrison, has fought and lost twice this year while coming to the aide of a teammate. That, ladies and gentleman, is the type of character guys you want on your team. The Leafs did not have any of those guys on the ice last night when Janssen leveled Kaberle... it is an embarrassment to those players and to the Leaf's team. Don Cherry probably lost his cookies last night somewhere.

Sabres Fans Pay Up in Pizza Money

Seems the Buffalo Sabres’ fans don’t agree with Colin Campbell’s decision to fine the coach $10,000 for his action against the Senators this past week. As a matter of fact, they’re ready to put their money where the mouth is. According to SLAM, two different fan-based fundraisers have been established to pay Lindy’s fine.

"Put down the pen, put away the cheque book. This one's on us," said Chris Phillips, co-owner of a Buffalo-area pizza store, who plans to donate 10 per cent of every sale toward what he called, The Lindy Ruff Fine Fund. "I know Lindy's got the means to pay.

Ruff smiled when asked about the fundraisers after practice Monday.

"For the fans to step in is incredible," Ruff said. "But at the end of the day, I'm responsible for what I've done, and they're trying to cover my tracks, which is good, I guess."

Ruff said whatever money raised will not go toward paying the fine, but instead will be donated to charity.

If you can claim a winner in this mini-rivalry, it certainly is the Buffalo Sabres, their coach, and their fans. Lindy Ruff responded in a manner that can be respected by any blue collar NHL fan. He sent out players to stand up for their fallen teammate. He then watched as Bryan Murray moaned and groaned about his actions, even though Murray has done the same exact thing twice in the past – once with the Capitals and once with the Mighty Ducks. The Senators also lose because their players looked on as their goaltender fought the Sabres toughest player in Andrew Peters. Peters later edged out tough guy Brian McGratton in a much anticipated fight in Ottawa. The Sabres won the first game and then narrowly lost the second, losing in Ottawa while play eight call ups because of injuries. With the exception of Chris Neil, who I think dished out a clean hit on a vulnerable opponent and won his fight against Buffalo’s agitator in Adam Mair, the Senators and their coach looked terrible throughout these two games.

“[Expletive] Colin Campbell!” says Andre Roy

A bit perturbed from his three game suspension for faking a head butt at a referee, Andre Roy had some kind words for the league and its discipline deputy yesterday.

"It's all about the name on the back [of the sweater], and the number," Roy said. "If it's anybody else, maybe a 10-minute misconduct. But it's Andre Roy. We'll suspend him. They just like to [expletive] me.

"This [expletive] league, where's all the emotion? You used to be able to [expletive] let your emotions out, say what you think. ... I spoke, and I faked a head-butt, or
something like that. And they [expletive] suspend me.

"I'm very surprised. Very, very, very surprised. But ... [NHL executive] Colin Campbell likes to [expletive] me every time. So [expletive] him."

That [expletive] Andre Roy might be best to lay [expletive] low for a little while. [Expletive] [expletive] Colin [Expletive] Campbell has a short [expletive] fuse. So [expletive] Roy might not want to set that [expletiver] off.

Colin Campbell Rears His Ugly Head

Colin Campbell is an ugly individual... well, most of the time.

But we won't go too hard on Campbell for this one. Usually one to jump all over situations like the Senators/Sabres brawl, Campbell went easy this time, fining Sabres coach Lindy Ruff $10,000 for sending his players on the ice to go after the Senators star players.

While we fully support Ruff's actions, for reasons that could fill the full length of this blog entry, we can't help but say that Ruff made a mistake.......... with his post-game comment that he told his players to "Go out and run 'em." Woops. One comment and you just cost yourself $10,000. Simply put, as a coach, you should never admit to sending players out to do dirty work. Does it occur? Yes, absolutely. Should you talk about it after the game? No... not unless you want to buy Campbell a fresh set of emroidered hankies.

Satisfied with his fine money, Campbell reached into his bag of tricks today and pulled out his suspension wand. In an incident that was described as non-verbal and non-physical, Lighting forward Andre Roy has been suspended for three games by Campbell. Roy was issued a game misconduct at the 20:00 minute mark of the 3rd period for Abuse of Officials.

Wait a second... let's back on this a quick second. He apparently did not verbally abuse the officials. And we know he didn't physically abuse the officials because that would be major news. So what exactly could he have done???

Your guess is as good as mine as details are very limited on this issue. But, hey, I'll take a shot and muster one guess...