***NOTE: This was actually written before the suspension was handed out***
First things first I guess, you may as well check out the hit so here it is.
This is a dirty hit, that is from behind, and it is without question a hit that deserves a suspension. It is clearly from behind, and Michal Rozsival (New York Rangers) did not turn, his back was always to the play. To make it worse, Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers) jumped. And when I say jump, I mean it he might as well tried to leap-frog him. Looking at the reply, it almost looks like he gets himself about a foot off the ice. Kovalchuk received a 5 minute major and was also given a game misconduct. So dirty hit, with a massive charge, attempt to injure… suspension for sure, right?
Here is why I don’t think he will get suspended, and if he does, it will be one game at the most. Rozsival was not hurt on the play. He returned to the game after the first intermission once he was checked out by team doctors. The other main reason, is that Kovalchuk is a star player, who is the middle of a scoring race. The one thing the NHL does not want to do, is remove a star player, with the electricity that Kovalchuk has, from the game for a long period of time. Especially in a non-hockey market. You wouldn’t want those ratings to suck anymore right.
The other thing that creeps into my mind… is that this hit is similar to Randy Jones’ (Philadelphia Flyers) hit on Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins). Now Bergeron is out for the season, and Jones only got 2 games! No way in hell Kovalchuk gets anymore then that!
I concur. That was a dirty hit, and the fact that he kind of leaped into it makes it worse. Even though he wasn’t hurt, I think the guy should get more than a penalty and a misconduct. But obviously Hockey is out to make money and can’t afford to lose players who help it achieve that, right?
This is an outrage!!!! As a die hard Ranger fan, and someone who has never liked Kovalchuk, I think he should get what Steve Downie got for his hit on Dean McCammond. Ilya (what a wierd name) is a great tallent on the ice but in any interview I have seen him in seems arogant. I don’t like it. Down with Ilya. Too bad he is suspended for that one game because the Rangers and Atlanta go at it again in NY tomorrow (who made this stupid schedule…this could be a blogging topic, the shedule)and I would love to watch Avery get under Isabelle’s uh I mean Ilya’s skin again just like in last years playoffs (Ranger’s Sweep)or watch Colten Orr or Ryan Hollweg kick the crap out of Ilya. Oh what might have been. It’s also unfortunate that these teams don’t play again either this year because I love payback.