Turnbuckle Gate

I am sure that by now you have seen the hit that sent Max Pacioretty to the hospital with a sever concussion and a non-displaced cervical fracture of the fourth vertebra. What is interesting about this hit is that so many experts, ex-players, and pundits are completely divided in their views. Half side with Zdeno Chara's report that it was an unfortunate accident, and the other half think side with Pacioretty who thinks that Chara intended to drive his skull into the into the turnbuckle.

I really can't bring myself to believe that Chara had the time to think,"I'm gonna drive this guys skull into that turnbuckle." Chara was doing what he does ten times a game, riding an opposing player into the wall so his teammate can retrieve the puck. It might be interference, but it is not called that often, so players do it. The play happened so quickly, and so instinctively, that I have a hard time believing that Chara intended to drive Pacioretty into the turnbuckle.

The two players do have a history of not getting along this season. Pacioretty gave Chara a shove after scoring an overtime goal, and naturally a scrum ensued. The next time the teams meet, they had it out in a game that ended with 182 penalty minutes, multiple fights, and a few ejections. If this hit was a calculated retaliation, it was one of the best disguised retaliatory hits in the history of the NHL.

I don't think you should hold players accountable when injuries occur on normal hockey plays. The NHL should stop disciplining players based on the extent of injury they caused and their past history. Grave injuries can happen on ordinary plays, and no injuries can happen on extremely malicious plays. In the end, I agree with the NHL on this one, it was just an ordinary hockey play gone horrible wrong.