Daily Links for Tuesday, Dec. 1

by Andy Boron on Dec 1, 2009 6:00 AM EST in Daily Links

Happy December everyone! The Sabres have a tough month ahead with 15 games on the slate, so gear up with some links. We've also got some views (including Ryan Miller's) and video on the Ovechkin and Vokoun hits from last night after the break.

Miller, Sabres slam the door on Maple Leafs | TSN
Pension Plan Puppets doesn't have a recap up as of midnight so today we're going with TSN for our look back.

A Lession (Re)Learned | WNYmedia.net
A good remembrance of what Buffalo sports mean to Buffalonians, and of what being a fan is all about.

SabreCast 2.10 – Kaleta vs Boarding
In the newest episode of the Sabrecast, the guys take a look at the recent bevy of boarding blunders.

Ovechkin won't avoid suspension this time | The Hockey News
Ken Campbell talks about the 2 unfortunate incidents from last night (Ovie's knee-on-knee and Keith Ballard's baseball swing at Tomas Vokoun) and asks Ryan Miller for his thoughts.

Actually, the refs are biased against your team (on the road) | Puck Daddy
Do refs call more penalties for the home or road team? The answer may surprise you.

Sabres Blog-Off (Round 1) | The NHL Arena
In case you haven't already, please vote for DBTB over at The Arena!

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Comments

Im still shocked over the Vokun hit

I saw it last night on a game break from the Sabres game and i probably watched it 20 times since and it still shocks me every time. Barry Melrose said it was the dumbest thing he’s ever seen in hockey, and I’ve got to agree. Pure stupidity.

"always thinking one step ahead, like a carpenter...who makes stairs..."

by dragonwag0n on Dec 1, 2009 8:45 AM EST via mobile reply actions

It was unfortunate

But I think everyone should just let the thing die. Players, goalies included, break their sticks over the goal all the time in frustration after allowing goals. This is an unfortunate event that was really just a fluke accident. I’ll guarantee you no one feels worse than Ballard about watching his goalie being carted off the ice because of something he did.

B-B-B-Byrd Byrd Byrd, Byrd is the Wyrd!"

by willgarr15 on Dec 1, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

It should be noted that...

…Miller did not comment about AO potentially being suspended, only about the inadvertent slash on Vokoun.

I think Ken Campbell is living in a fantasy world if he thinks AO is going to be suspended. It is not a disciplinary decision, it is a marketing decision and the league simply is not going to take a player that they have invested that much marketing capital on off the ice, no matter what he does. The rules that the rest of the players in the league have to abide by do not apply to Ovechkin. That was true three years ago. That was true last week and that is still true today.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Dec 1, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions

Miller

True, he did not comment on Ovie. Perhaps a little sensationalism on my part :)

by Andy Boron on Dec 1, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

AO gone for two...

…frankly, I’m shocked however the fact that he may not have been able to play anyway because of the injury he sustained by initiating the knee-on-knee might have influenced the decision to suspend him.

Ovechkin was utterly unapologetic about his conduct in regards to the hit. In the official press release from the Capitals he said, ""How can you tell me you just have to stop playing how you play? If I stop playing how I play I won’t be that type of player. I play risky."

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Dec 1, 2009 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree

On the other hits, I understand why there was no suspension because it is a close call either way. On this play though, he blatantly sticks out his knee and players were injured, including himself. This is the time to suspend Ovie and say, take it easy before more people get hurt, or you get hurt more. Not to mention, the league suspended Laracque 5 games for a nearly identical knee-on-knee hit. They have no choice but to address it this time.

B-B-B-Byrd Byrd Byrd, Byrd is the Wyrd!"

by willgarr15 on Dec 1, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

not to mention, the league will definitely have to ~~take notice that~~ address the fact that he was given twp game misconducts within a week of each other. They need to show that they care more about the game and the dignity of the league than the revenue gained in a few games that feature a high caliber player

by The Burl 8 on Dec 1, 2009 7:21 PM EST up reply actions

OVIE SUSPENDED

I should’ve checked before that last post, but was too lazy. Just went to NHL.com, and it was announced earlier today that he has been suspended w/o pay for two games.

So whether or not he would have missed those games to injury, it’ll probably hurt his wallet somewhere in the area of what I make in a year (or more, or less, i don’t really know how they calculate that stuff).

by The Burl 8 on Dec 1, 2009 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

Just listened to an interview with Aaron Portzline...

Portzline is the Jackets’ beat reporter for the Columbus Dispatch. He was interviewed during between periods of tonight’s Jackets-Hawks game.

Portzline made a lot of the same arguments I’ve been making. He expressly claimed that the NHL has been looking at the name on the back of the jersey when handing out punishments and that Campbell’s failing to punish AO earlier has actively encouraged him to become a dirty player…ultimately leading to the current situation. He also negatively compared the NHL’s suspension policy to the NFL’s. While Portzline felt that Goodell has many flaws, one which he does not have is his willingness to lay the hammer down hard on prominent players who commit violent infractions or are repeat offenders. I disagree with that assessment, as we have seen Goodell bring the hammer down hard for off-field infractions (such as Marshawn Lynch’s) but has on occasion let repeat offenders for on-field infractions (such as Vince Wilfork) walk with only relatively minor fines.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Dec 1, 2009 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/29740-THNcom-Blog-Blueline-basics-bring-Butler-success.html
That’s a short little piece of Chris Butler. It’s easy to not notice the kid but there’s a lot to like about him. Him being an American boy is a nice little bonus too.
Lol, unnoticed typo there: “Lession” relearned… is the black death making a comeback? And we thought H1N1 was a threat!

by Traver on Dec 1, 2009 2:38 PM EST reply actions