Dan’s Daily Links: Marchand Hit Reviewed, Bettman Head Shot Testimony

Published

5 years ago

May 2, 2019

Gamesmanship in the NHL playoffs is part of the fun. From the Boston Bruins claiming Sergei Bobrovsky will crack or Brad Marchand with a little rabbit punch to the back of Scott Harrington’s head, to Dallas claiming a psychological edge on St. Louis, it is all fair game. Even Esa Lindell’s floppy dives were worthy of a “Whooo,” but it is all good because it is the Cup. Players not chasing the Cup are lining up at the World Championships, including seven Pittsburgh Penguins.

It does seem like a good bet. Sergei Bobrovsky has not won a playoff series in four previous attempts and not posted a goals-against-average below 3.00. So far in the 2019 chase, he has stood on his head. Boston says he’ll crack (NHL.com)

Brad Marchand won’t be suspended for the little punch to Scott Harrington (rightfully so). Marchand explained what he was thinking (NESN)

The Athletic held a roundtable discussion about the punch, too. (The Athletic)

My opinion: If it wasn’t Brad Marchand, no one would have noticed. Calls for suspension are based more on serving justice for past infractions than this one.

It doesn’t reflect well on the Pittsburgh Penguins that the team which swept them out of Round One is about to get swept out of Round Two, does it? Carolina is feeling the flow. Doing the happy dance. And they buried New York in Game 3, 5-2. And so they also fired a shot on Twitter..because it’s 2019. (USA TODAY)

From the Carolina side (WRAL)

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman testified before a Canadian Parliamentary panel yesterday. There is a push from within the Canadian government to crack down on head hits in hockey. The testimony was as unsatisfying for the opposition as AG Bob Barr’s testimony was to the political left before the US Senate yesterday. (TSN)

We dished Penguins goalie Matt Murray’s report card yesterday. A terrible start, fantastic rebound, and a few soft goals. Here’s the grade (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

#Pens (as of now) have seven participants in #IIHFWorlds:
CAN: Matt Murray & Jared McCann
RUS: Evgeni Malkin
CZE: Dominik Simon
SWE: Marcus Pettersson & Patric Hornqvist
LAT: Teddy Blueger
Action begins on Fri, May 10th in Slovakia.

— Josh Getzoff (@PensJG) May 1, 2019

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