he saw kunitz taking a run at him so he put his hands up to deflect the hit and he didn't do it fast enough so his elbow hit kunitz in the face. smitty is classy, he would never do that intentionally
No, this was not a "good clean hockey hit on a player trying to take a run at someone" this is an elbow the face in self defence. Could it have been borderline charging on Kunitz had the hit gone through? Definitely. But Ryan Smyth had over a full second after he released the puck to brace for the hit, instead he waited till the last second and lifted his elbow. Its just a reflex, but the severity of it deserves a penalty. Had he lifted his elbow and blocked the shoulder he wouldve been unscathd
@AyfoZ94 he saw kunitz taking a run at him so he put his hands up to deflect the hit and he didn't do it fast enough so his elbow hit kunitz in the face. smitty is classy, he would never do that intentionally
@Dynamitehippo Whoa whoa there buddy hockeys a fast paced game where players emotions sometimes get the best of them espcially in this case where smyth returns to edmonton home opener in fact, so its easy to lose your cool the way he did and to not think about what your doing and I enjoyed his five penalty minutes for my fantasy pool ;)
hockey has become so boring and these over paid players and owners have forgotten that hockey is a combination of gladiator/finesse game that takes heart and brute strength to win. Hockey was never meant to be so protective of the players in fear of concussions and the loss of a multi-million dollar fragile wussy girly man with no heart to play through the pain. I miss real hockey , thanks for killing it. Self preservation gets you a game misconduct. I'm to sad to laugh.
Don't lay stupid hit's on Smitty . And definitely don't try to sell the call with poor acting . You will get an elbow to the head , a stick to the body , and lose the game .
This is the problem with suspensions or not. It's always a judgement call. If you ask me, if Bouchard was suspended for that high stick, this should be too. Smyth clearly lead with elbow in defending himself and striking a player in the head. Kunitz hit would have been clear, there was no charge or interference in this example. Guarantee if it was Smyth's stick, he would have been suspended.
Lol? That was barely an elbow. Kunitz came at him fast from center ice, trying to get a hit after the puck left, and he got dropped. As simple as that. Which is why he wasn't suspended, even with these unbelievably strict rules. Done.
I don't know if anyone noticed the fact that Kunitz took a run at Smyth from centre ice, or the fact that his stick comes up and hits Smyth in the face (and for you Oilers haters, Smyth's stick hits Kunitz too). The worst I see is a good clean hockey hit on a player trying to take a run at someone, and coincidental high-sticking minors. BUT WHO CARES, EDMONTON WON THE GAME AND SMYTH OFFICIALLY WON'T BE SUSPENDED.
@h0tsalsa takes a run from centre ice ? c'mon man he slows himself down before he gets to smyth obviously and at the last second smyth throws up an elbow thats dirty had he put his shoulder down like forsberg used to do then it would be different but all the impact went to kunitz's head because smyth couldnt take a little contact? thats bullshit
The only thing slowing Kunitz down was the forearm to his face.
I don't know if you saw last week, Phaneuf had a hit that looked alot worse than this. Phaneuf wasn't even given a penalty, let alone a suspension. The entire NHL community labeled that a "good hockey hit". If Dion gets nothing how can Smyth get 5 and the game. And Smyth didn't get so pretty from being scared of contact.
Whoooo caresss... a guy hit someone. he went to protect himself and got got the other guy with an elbow... he got the major penalty, move on people. This wasn't Tie Domi on Scott Niedermayer.
@Zenner2000 - Smith carried the puck before 'passing' or dunping. If the puck is not controlled by another player, he can be hit. We do not see on that angle where the puck is at the impact moment, but if it's not fully controlled, he has to take hits.
Possession of the Puck: The last player to touch the puck, other than the goalkeeper, shall be considered the player in possession. The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately following his loss of possession.
That means you have a brief window of time to hit the person after they shoot/pass/dump the puck. Kunitz hit was borderline, and Smyth was guilty of an elbow. Not suspension worthy.
"...Moving laterally and without establishing body position, then making contact with the non-puck carrier is not permitted and will be penalized as interference."
Rule 41: Boarding
"...The onus is on the player applying the check to ensure his opponent is not in a vulnerable position and if so, he must avoid the contact."
Rule 42: Charging
"...A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player who skates or jumps into, or charges an opponent in any manner."
@h0tsalsaThe NHL have always allowed a second or two to hit the puck carrier after he gets rid of the puck (see interference definition - possession of the puck). Kunitz wasn't moving his feet (or jumping) so it wasn't charging, and it sure wasn't boarding.
It was a borderline late hit at worst. Smyth's reaction was the old school Messier/Howe chin music that may have been overlooked in the old days, but now it is a definite two minutes for elbowing. I think the 5 was excessive.
Key words "a second or two". Smyth is in the neutral zone on the left wing and the puck is in Pittsburgh's zone on the right wing (with another Oilers player as well). Can you honestly say he was "in possession of the puck"? Here is the rest of Rule 42: "Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A “charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal frame or in open ice."
@h0tsalsa Smyth had been in possession of the puck - an undeniable fact. Whether Kunitz check was in the allowable time afterward is referee judgement call..."The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately following his loss of possession."
I don't agree with Kerry Fraser about the 5 minute major, but he explains it from a referee's point of view:
Why can't anyone just let things go when someone throws a good clean check at them. Whatever happened to taking "their number" and catching the guy later with the same thing.
I have a question for everyone...Is this the type of thing we are going to see now when someone tries to throw a bodycheck that is clean (I admit it was late, but ryan could have stopped) the other guy tries to take is head off? This is the crap you see in Junior C & B.
No problem with Smyth getting called for an elbow, but where was the call on Kunitz for interference? No question, it was a late hit Kunitz was going for. Should be interesting to hear Shannahan's work on this one.
When you carry the puck, the other team is defending zones and you are attaking their zone so THEY can hit you(you cannot). Ryan Smith refused contact. He drop the puck (pass or drop). From that moment, until a teammate or an opponent is in full control of that puck, he can be hit... To protect himself, he can roll with the hit since he say it coming. Refusing impact is not possible in a contact sport.
If the pass was completed and Kunitz was doing a late hit, it's something to consider first.
protecting himself is not a reason to hit opponent's head... Shannahan is consistent. If Smith has no previous suspension, he will get 2 games... Since Bouchard has been suspended (and bouchard is a 'respected' player) because he's responsable of his stick, Ryan is responsable of his foreharm or elbow.
In this case, we are not talking a a Chara vs St-Louis height difference wich has to be considered... Ryan raised his arm.
He should have taken the hit with his body or roll along impact.
Smyth is easily one of the most respected and classy players in the league. It's clear as crystal he was just trying to protect himself. I can't imagine what those homer Pens announcers said about this.
I don't like ryan smyth, but all he did here was hold protect himself from a late hit. He held his elbow up, kunitz skated into him. Smyth has no option, no way out of the hit and he shouldn't be required to take a late blindside shoulder to the head from some goon on pittsburgh.
he saw kunitz taking a run at him so he put his hands up to deflect the hit and he didn't do it fast enough so his elbow hit kunitz in the face. smitty is classy, he would never do that intentionally
ThatOilersKid 2 months ago
Good riddance to bad rubbish, Kunitz is a dirty headhunter, he deserves a career ending injury for the crap he's pulled.
therealsniqow 3 months ago
No, this was not a "good clean hockey hit on a player trying to take a run at someone" this is an elbow the face in self defence. Could it have been borderline charging on Kunitz had the hit gone through? Definitely. But Ryan Smyth had over a full second after he released the puck to brace for the hit, instead he waited till the last second and lifted his elbow. Its just a reflex, but the severity of it deserves a penalty. Had he lifted his elbow and blocked the shoulder he wouldve been unscathd
AyfoZ94 4 months ago
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@AyfoZ94 he saw kunitz taking a run at him so he put his hands up to deflect the hit and he didn't do it fast enough so his elbow hit kunitz in the face. smitty is classy, he would never do that intentionally
ThatOilersKid 2 months ago
Smyth gave a cheap shot, an elbow to the head. No getting around that. I predict one game.
mcleanartists 4 months ago
@Dynamitehippo What would you do if someone started charging at you from center ice?
avoilers 4 months ago
@avoilers not put my elbow up to purposely hurt the person. its hockey you are going to get hit.
Dynamitehippo 4 months ago
@Dynamitehippo Whoa whoa there buddy hockeys a fast paced game where players emotions sometimes get the best of them espcially in this case where smyth returns to edmonton home opener in fact, so its easy to lose your cool the way he did and to not think about what your doing and I enjoyed his five penalty minutes for my fantasy pool ;)
avoilers 4 months ago
hockey has become so boring and these over paid players and owners have forgotten that hockey is a combination of gladiator/finesse game that takes heart and brute strength to win. Hockey was never meant to be so protective of the players in fear of concussions and the loss of a multi-million dollar fragile wussy girly man with no heart to play through the pain. I miss real hockey , thanks for killing it. Self preservation gets you a game misconduct. I'm to sad to laugh.
xXTheFreakWithinXx 4 months ago
How's my elbow taste?
azeltroth 4 months ago
Garbage call
avoilers 4 months ago
not intentional, but definitely a head shot
bdGongShow 4 months ago
Kunitz deserves it.
coocoocoffee 4 months ago
Ryan Smyth was like: Nope! Chuck Testa
FishzHunter 4 months ago 2
@FishzHunter lmfao
iginla07 4 months ago
RyanSmyth was LIKE NOT TODAY SUCKA
90nikefootball 4 months ago
It's only natural to raise your arm to push away someone who's charging at you.
Seriously, this head shot rule is fucking ruining hockey and the season's not even a week old yet.
moonbal 4 months ago
@NacojayProductions unnecessary*
CombedPanther 4 months ago
Don't lay stupid hit's on Smitty . And definitely don't try to sell the call with poor acting . You will get an elbow to the head , a stick to the body , and lose the game .
Extremeineveryway 4 months ago
SMITTY <3
SUPERCROSBY96 4 months ago
why are there dislikes? the video sais whoever elbows whoever and that's what happened? boy this world is strange!
kylester18 4 months ago
why couldnt he have done this to cook
estabonism 4 months ago
He got a game misconduct. That seems like a long enough punishment for this incident.
GrayBread 4 months ago
This is the problem with suspensions or not. It's always a judgement call. If you ask me, if Bouchard was suspended for that high stick, this should be too. Smyth clearly lead with elbow in defending himself and striking a player in the head. Kunitz hit would have been clear, there was no charge or interference in this example. Guarantee if it was Smyth's stick, he would have been suspended.
Nerud1923 4 months ago
Well done ryan, my guess is kunitz thinks twice about taking a run next time.
justincider75 4 months ago 18
@justincider75
Amen!
SirSmokeAlot1985 4 months ago
Obvious elbow
HabsFanTom 4 months ago
Lol? That was barely an elbow. Kunitz came at him fast from center ice, trying to get a hit after the puck left, and he got dropped. As simple as that. Which is why he wasn't suspended, even with these unbelievably strict rules. Done.
Harmannnnnnnn 4 months ago
oh i thought it was tpitsburg who was gunna get the penatly.... DURP....
adamandtyler132 4 months ago
I don't know if anyone noticed the fact that Kunitz took a run at Smyth from centre ice, or the fact that his stick comes up and hits Smyth in the face (and for you Oilers haters, Smyth's stick hits Kunitz too). The worst I see is a good clean hockey hit on a player trying to take a run at someone, and coincidental high-sticking minors. BUT WHO CARES, EDMONTON WON THE GAME AND SMYTH OFFICIALLY WON'T BE SUSPENDED.
h0tsalsa 4 months ago 22
@h0tsalsa takes a run from centre ice ? c'mon man he slows himself down before he gets to smyth obviously and at the last second smyth throws up an elbow thats dirty had he put his shoulder down like forsberg used to do then it would be different but all the impact went to kunitz's head because smyth couldnt take a little contact? thats bullshit
jordang420 4 months ago
@jordang420
The only thing slowing Kunitz down was the forearm to his face.
I don't know if you saw last week, Phaneuf had a hit that looked alot worse than this. Phaneuf wasn't even given a penalty, let alone a suspension. The entire NHL community labeled that a "good hockey hit". If Dion gets nothing how can Smyth get 5 and the game. And Smyth didn't get so pretty from being scared of contact.
h0tsalsa 4 months ago
@jordang420
@HeavySig
And Kunitz has a history of questionable hits and elbows, search:
- Kunitz elbow Timonen
- Kunitz elbow Gagne
- Kunitz blows up Avery (quesitonable hit)
- Kunitz cheap shot Cheechoo
- Kunitz slewfoots Filppula
- Kunitz jumps Ruutu
The list goes on.
h0tsalsa 4 months ago 4
@h0tsalsa lol but edmonton will come in last in the long run
TheMasterBakers 4 months ago
Whoooo caresss... a guy hit someone. he went to protect himself and got got the other guy with an elbow... he got the major penalty, move on people. This wasn't Tie Domi on Scott Niedermayer.
superman1717171 4 months ago
And what about that slash after the hit? Pretty sure gravity doesn't pull a stick down that hard...
poutouellet 4 months ago
it was gunna be a late hit anyways..
hitman7777777777 4 months ago
@Zenner2000 - Smith carried the puck before 'passing' or dunping. If the puck is not controlled by another player, he can be hit. We do not see on that angle where the puck is at the impact moment, but if it's not fully controlled, he has to take hits.
213buddy213 4 months ago
@213buddy213 NHL rules say different:
Possession of the Puck: The last player to touch the puck, other than the goalkeeper, shall be considered the player in possession. The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately following his loss of possession.
That means you have a brief window of time to hit the person after they shoot/pass/dump the puck. Kunitz hit was borderline, and Smyth was guilty of an elbow. Not suspension worthy.
HeavySig 4 months ago
@HeavySig
Rule 56: Interference
"...Moving laterally and without establishing body position, then making contact with the non-puck carrier is not permitted and will be penalized as interference."
Rule 41: Boarding
"...The onus is on the player applying the check to ensure his opponent is not in a vulnerable position and if so, he must avoid the contact."
Rule 42: Charging
"...A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player who skates or jumps into, or charges an opponent in any manner."
h0tsalsa 4 months ago
@h0tsalsaThe NHL have always allowed a second or two to hit the puck carrier after he gets rid of the puck (see interference definition - possession of the puck). Kunitz wasn't moving his feet (or jumping) so it wasn't charging, and it sure wasn't boarding.
It was a borderline late hit at worst. Smyth's reaction was the old school Messier/Howe chin music that may have been overlooked in the old days, but now it is a definite two minutes for elbowing. I think the 5 was excessive.
HeavySig 4 months ago
@HeavySig
Key words "a second or two". Smyth is in the neutral zone on the left wing and the puck is in Pittsburgh's zone on the right wing (with another Oilers player as well). Can you honestly say he was "in possession of the puck"? Here is the rest of Rule 42: "Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A “charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal frame or in open ice."
h0tsalsa 4 months ago
@h0tsalsa Smyth had been in possession of the puck - an undeniable fact. Whether Kunitz check was in the allowable time afterward is referee judgement call..."The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately following his loss of possession."
I don't agree with Kerry Fraser about the 5 minute major, but he explains it from a referee's point of view:
tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377862
Also, latest breaking news says no suspension.
HeavySig 4 months ago
Why can't anyone just let things go when someone throws a good clean check at them. Whatever happened to taking "their number" and catching the guy later with the same thing.
max35fli 4 months ago
I have a question for everyone...Is this the type of thing we are going to see now when someone tries to throw a bodycheck that is clean (I admit it was late, but ryan could have stopped) the other guy tries to take is head off? This is the crap you see in Junior C & B.
max35fli 4 months ago
No problem with Smyth getting called for an elbow, but where was the call on Kunitz for interference? No question, it was a late hit Kunitz was going for. Should be interesting to hear Shannahan's work on this one.
gdgg16 4 months ago
When you carry the puck, the other team is defending zones and you are attaking their zone so THEY can hit you(you cannot). Ryan Smith refused contact. He drop the puck (pass or drop). From that moment, until a teammate or an opponent is in full control of that puck, he can be hit... To protect himself, he can roll with the hit since he say it coming. Refusing impact is not possible in a contact sport.
If the pass was completed and Kunitz was doing a late hit, it's something to consider first.
213buddy213 4 months ago
@213buddy213 No one touch the puck, I'm going to hit their player.
zenner2000 4 months ago
protecting himself is not a reason to hit opponent's head... Shannahan is consistent. If Smith has no previous suspension, he will get 2 games... Since Bouchard has been suspended (and bouchard is a 'respected' player) because he's responsable of his stick, Ryan is responsable of his foreharm or elbow.
In this case, we are not talking a a Chara vs St-Louis height difference wich has to be considered... Ryan raised his arm.
He should have taken the hit with his body or roll along impact.
213buddy213 4 months ago
Haha what a junk call. Now just wait for him to get a 13 game suspension!
Moses771 4 months ago
Smyth is easily one of the most respected and classy players in the league. It's clear as crystal he was just trying to protect himself. I can't imagine what those homer Pens announcers said about this.
sTyLnK 4 months ago
Chris Kunitz attempts the hit and Ryan Smyth gets ejected. Nice.
dona83 4 months ago
I don't like ryan smyth, but all he did here was hold protect himself from a late hit. He held his elbow up, kunitz skated into him. Smyth has no option, no way out of the hit and he shouldn't be required to take a late blindside shoulder to the head from some goon on pittsburgh.
letmepointout 4 months ago
forearm more than an elbow, and he's defending his ice; this MUST stop
downeyfan20 4 months ago
He was just defending his ice; he would have been in Pittsburgh's bench if he didn't.
OMGMajorRage 4 months ago