Conference Semifinal Game 6 Scores: Pens/Caps, Hawks/Canucks

Blackhawks/Canucks Recap:

Was this game real?  Seriously.  A 7-5 hockey game to clinch the series for the young Hawks and send them to the 3rd round for the first time since 1994/95 season.  Coincidentally back in 1994/95 they lost that series to the Wings (4 games to 1) who are looking like they will be the Hawks next opponent.  Kudos to Buffalo, N.Y., native Patrick Kane who notched a hat trick (1st for Hawks in playoffs in last 15 years) and an assist in the victory.  Little IC Trivia:  Who scored the last hat trick for the Hawks during the playoffs?

TSN’s Darren Dreger spoke with NHL players on the Walker Punch: 

I spoke to 20 NHL players in an informal poll regarding the Scott Walker-Aaron Ward incident, asking if Ward’s punch on Walker was a sucker-punch and whether it should have been a suspendable offence. 14 of the players who responded said “absolutely, it was a sucker-punch, and Scott Walker of the Carolina Hurricanes should be suspended.” Six said “no, it was not a sucker-punch”.

To give you a sample of some of the reaction of those who said no, one player said “not a sucker-punch, but dirty, and Walker should be suspended if Ward misses any time.” Another player voting no said, “hey, when the game is starting to get chippy, it is the responsibility of everyone to be ready, especially when you are being physical.” One of the players who voted “yes” said “Walker knew what he was doing – this was intentional.”

So 14 players voted yes, Walker should have been suspended for a sucker-punch, and six said no. I said to NHL Hockey Operations: look, there’s so much debate out there with the players, coaches, general managers, even here on the NHL on TSN panel: what is a sucker-punch? And according to the answer I got back, the definition is, “a sucker-punch is when an unsuspecting player is punched.” So it seems that 14 players would argue that if you have your arms at your sides, then you’re unsuspecting.

Ongoing Phoenix Saga Daily Tidbit:

• NHL ordered to turn over Reinsdorf documents

The NHL has been ordered to turn over documents relating to the league’s purported discussions with Jerry Reinsdorf about his interest in buying the financially troubled Phoenix Coyotes.

A motion requesting the documents was filed by Coyotes ownership on Monday in U.S. bankruptcy court in Arizona, and the court ruled the NHL has until 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday to produce them.

The aim behind the request was “to examine the content of [the league’s discussions with Reinsdorf] and the potential offer outstanding by Mr. Reinsdorf related to these purported interests,” according to the court documents.

For complete story, click here.

• Coyotes owner yielded control for $38M: NHL

Phoenix Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes gave NHL commissioner Gary Bettman an “irrevocable proxy” to control his franchise on Nov. 14 in exchange for $38 million US in league money to stay afloat, according to court documents filed in Arizona.

“As a condition to providing this support, the league required Mr. Moyes … to execute proxies in favour of the commissioner of the NHL to control the equity and operation of the [club],” the NHL argues in its objection to the bankruptcy proceedings.

“Moyes asked that he be allowed to retain his titles to avoid public embarrassment, and the league so agreed, but with the express understanding that he had no authority … to take any action outside the normal course of business, including filing for bankruptcy”.

For complete story, click here.