Reckless hit should cost Bruins’ Chara a game
Chara/By S. Bradley
While you re-watch Zdeno Chara’s hit on Max Pacioretty tonight to determine what supplemental discipline, if any, the Bruins’ captain should face, throw out all you know about the league’s tallest player.
Chara’s height and weight do not matter. His strength is irrelevant. That he’s a solid humanitarian off the ice, and on the ice is physical but clean isn’t relevant to this particular play. In fact, the only history that you might take into account is that Chara has only been suspended by the NHL once, and that was for a late-game instigator and fight in 2005 while with Ottawa.
The intent to injure Pacioretty with a late hit — and if you count to 2 Mississippi, it’s a late hit — might have been absent from Chara’s brain, but such a reckless play is going to injure regardless. In an effort to send a message to Chara and the rest of the league’s players, Chara has to be suspended at least one game.
If Chara didn’t know where along the side of the rink he was when he finished the check, that’s unfortunate. Hopefully, Chara will be more aware in the future. Chara said after the game that he did not intent to push Pacioretty into the glass there, and he’s to be believed. But the spot where Pacioretty hit just made it possible for the injury to be more severe than had he been hit along the half wall or in the corner. The hit was still the hit, and it was late and Pacioretty had no reason to believe he was about to get crushed into the glass. When a player is unsuspecting, he’s more than likely going to get injured if he’s then nailed by any player — never mind the mountain-sized Chara
Chara is not a dirty player, and pretty much everyone echoes those sentiments. That doesn’t mean he’s not capable of a dirty play. His team down 4-0 on the road in the most hostile environment for the Bruins in the league, Chara was obviously frustrated, which might’ve clouded his judgment. He wasn’t attempting to injure, but he was definitely trying to make a statement, and those two intentions got mixed together and the result was made more severe by where on the ice the play occurred.
Whether you want to classify it as dirty or just reckless, the hit resulted in an injury that could still turn out to be serious even if Pacioretty reportedly was conscious at the hospital and able to move his arms and legs. Missing the third period of a one-sided game doesn’t suffice as punishment in this situation. A one-game benching by the league would make it clear to Chara and the rest of the league that players have to be more responsible when it comes to hits away from the puck, regardless of where on the rink they take place.
Only an idiot who has never played this game would think it was anything but intentional. Just watch the replay and it is obvious that Chara gives Max an extra push with his left hand. Chara could have walked away from the check without giving him that extra shove.
As for Bettmann he really has a certain mindset … 1) he doesnt give a damn for Canadian teams…no money in it. 2) he likes goon hockey…more goons tune in and better ratings. 3) he doesnt want Canadian teams in the playoffs…again its about money.
Well keep going Gary soon all the good players will be gone and it will be a total goon league like you want. Then you can take your NHL and shove it up your sweet little kosher azz.
First off anyone that thinks he should be suspended for that is an idiot. Your in a footrace for the puck, clearly in that situation in the back of your mind should be there’s gonna be some contact made. Secondly if you watch it, he tries to jump to avoid it and is then shoved unfortunately it happens to be into the glass. Matt cooke can absolutely destroy savard (and his career) and he got nothing for a blatent head check. At no point was any contact made to the head on this hit. The league wants to eliminate it, good. But the only thing to eliminate hear is the glass between the benches. Yes it was a late hit that’s what the call was on. There’s no way that should be a suspension though, the league made the right call
Watching the replay you can see that Chara rotates his shoulders squared up with the boards, twists Max’s shoulders around flat and square with the boards, and then raises his left arm up near his head to push his head back over the boards. Perfect if you want to stand the guy up flat and bend him over the boards. I’ve played sports for years and any arm pushed up head high is got intent associated with it, his arm didn’t fly up with the hit, he turned his body dropped his right shoulder so he could get enough elevation on his left shoulder to get at his head with his arm. Who cares how much time it took? look how he was turning his body into the boards and moving his arm up into position. What a bunch of crap, I’ve done this stuff myself and it’s as obvious as heck exactly what he was doing. I hope they look at the replay and really look at what he’s doing as the hit progresses.
I played in the AHL for 8 years and 30 games in NHL before i was forced to retire from concussions so normaly I would have a biest oppinion but as a defenesman i have to say that Chara was making the right move by pinching him off. Unfortunatly the new rules give u less room to finish checks but what he did was not on purpos. but i do feel awful for Max because iv been in those shoes before. Good luck buddy.
And by the way. Just so most of you Bruins fans (who I must say have been very good about hab fans invading your blog) most hab fans would agree that the play that took out Savard should have been dealt with much more severely.
Nice post David. A 5 minute major can be called on pretty much any penalty where the referee determines intent to injure.
Zero games. Sad. Very sad.
The NHL for a few years now has been a bush-league run by a few old-boys and used to be’s who cling to the belief that injuries and fouls are just “part of the game”.
Coming soon to an arena near you: Watch a player get killed – LIVE!
What a POS league.
So, It’s a little extreme to be indefinitely suspending a player with clean record such as Chara’s who is also well-respected for the balance of Max’s injury. That said, as a Bruins fan, I watch him game in and game out. The sort of hit he delivered was indeed as OHF said designed to send a message. That message was to the effect of: be ready, we’ll be coming for the game and bringing the body. This is a moot point if Chara, ostensibly the Bruins’ best non-goalie player is out for the rest of the game, especially if that player is significantly injured.
Chara doesn’t fight much as has been mentioned because he doesn’t like to put people on the sidelines/no one want to end their season.
Also, it really bother me that ak46 was saying chara likes to pick on players smaller than him. They’re ALL smaller than him!!! He the biggest F*&$ing player in the NHL!!!
That aside, he was reckless, and that was stupid, and OHF, you said you could call this a major by the books, so let me ask: is there a major for interference, and when does it apply? I have never encountered it before.
ak46, I think you mean concussion. At least that’s what I think with my elementary French. And I think none of us are trying to make fun of that injury, we are dealing with Savard after he got taken out by a clean hit. We know how much it sucks.
Very eloquently put OHF, I agree except for the penalty. I don’t think it’s fair that Chara will be back on the ice within 10 games while max is out for (at the very least) the season. Chara’s poor decision with malicious intent alone caused what could be the end to a bright young career, he should suffer the consequences.
As I said before, I don’t think Chara is a dirty player. He just made a really bad decision on this play. Any player who is normally clean and well respected can make mistakes such as this. But like any other players he should receive some sort of supplementary discipline.
Both teams fans should avoid attacking each other. Both are good teams. Both have skilled players. Julien would probably love to have a few of the players on the habs and I have no doubt that Martin would love to get a Lucic (among others). There is nothing more dirty or weasely or anything stupid or negative about one over the other. The only real difference is that one team is about speed and skill, while the other is about skill and toughness. There is nothing wrong with either. Either method can win. No need for insults from either side regarding lack of skill, or toughness, or anything else. Just two proud teams with a storied rivalry that we can respect.
I can respect that as Boston fans you see it in a different way. Most Montreal fans will see it as attempted murder, but these reactions are to be expected. Somewhere in the middle of both views is the truth.
From what I understand, Chara is a very decent human being. That may not be a relevant piece of information when determining how and if he should be suspended. But it does do a great deal to convince me that he would feel bad about what happened and, while I have no doubt that he was trying to send a message at the end of the period to a player he did not particularly like, I think he did not expect the severity of the injury.
But, unlike what some of you have written, it was a penalty according to the rules in the NHL and is easily assessed as a 5 minute. Also, location on the rink does matter in assessing penalties or suspensions (around net and along boards). The fact that it was interference, that Pacioretty’s head was pushed by Chara’s arms and given the location on the ice, this is easily a suspension.
I do not wish any ill will toward Chara or any Boston player, I don’t think he should be suspended for the rest of the season or for a huge number of games. But he does need to be suspended. These types of plays cannot be endorsed.
And I am one Montreal fan who will feel the same way if it is a Montreal player who is guilty of an infraction. Because beyond being a fan of the habs, I am (firstly) a fan of hockey.
No I’m a Montreal fan, but I would say the same thing if a MTL player did that to Chara or any Bruins player, I want to see that kind of play and any player stooping low enough to do it out of the NHL.
Thx ERIC i hpe ur a bruis fan?
Ive seen a picture that ive been takin exactely when the contact whit the pole is made,the arm/and of zdeno still touchins is helmet closed to the pole
1-16second to go he dump the puck 3-second b4
2-Its been 2 game hes lookin gfor a revenge on Max
3-He didnt really did a good hit bu make sure to finish hit but pushing his head whit is elbow arm
4-He never turn iself to see what he did becuz he already knew what he did and pay the innocent card
Thats the 4main reason why i really thing is guilty and beside max for Chara,im sure Lucic and a majority of dirty player on NHL would have not finish it like he did
This will be difficult to overcome, Brian Savage suffered a broken vertebra in his neck on November 27th, 1999: after a vicious open ice check from Ian Laperriere.
While it does look much worse in slow mo, Chara still knew where he was and what he was doing, he’s a veteran. And he knows perfectly weel what he’s capable of with his size.
He should be out for as long as pacioretty. It’s his reckless, idiotic mistake that did this to Max and he should suffer AT LEAST the same punishment in terms of missed games if not a class actions lawsuit. If Max’s career is over, so should Chara’s.
There you have it. His neck is broken.
Godspeed Max, godspeed.
Chara, burn in hell.
seriousely and how chara try to fight whit chara?He did not,hes fighting whit is glove and became confident whe nhe has a couple inch more,Max didnt had the puc kso first its obstruction but he waite to the good time to do that think that he may decide second before,As long as u prouve me im wrong PK may not be Kovy but have a lot of Skilled thats a lot of bruins would love to have.
True for lecavalier that show that Chara have moer class that all is team he did what Pouliot and Price did a Clean fight whitout continu when the guy is down or fight whit glove or elbow protector
If u defend Zdeno i really hope we did the same to Cambell son and that he die on the ice know we would be sure the rule would change…
THX DAR u stoled my words
around 35point in 60game ok that little push in OT wasnt funny for Chara but to run after him the 2game after is a big little baby
” unless you play Tampa theres no way you’re getting past a real hockey team in a 7 game series.”
I guess that excludes the Bruins too, 4 of 5 losses to habs this year, 7 of the lasy 8 were losses.
A classic habs team? You mean a classic team with 24 cups? I guess you get 24 of those without grit or heart.
By the way, there’s not too many Canadiens fans who haven’t played hockey. Boston and Montreal are both great hockey cities, but you need to go to Montreal to understand just how much of a religion the game is there. And the fans are, on average, very knowledgeable. You are only seeing, and arguing, with the minority.
C4 Fracture and severe concussion for Pacioretty, looks like this could be the last of Pacioretty. It will be a long road to recovery from these injuries. Judging from the posts there’s not too many fans of the game in Boston, they just love the Goonery. This is a 22 year old just starting out, how would Bruins fans feel if Lucic or Seguin had their heads rammed into a stanchion by Trevor Gillies or Matt Cooke?
It’s so funny listening to Canadiens fans who have obviously never played hockey, talk about how Chara identified and attacked Pacioretti. If you were watching the game instead of the slow motion replays you would clearly see that that he was trying to prevent a guy who had more momentum from getting by him on a chip and chase, a standard hockey play.
You idiots really think if it’s anyone other then Paccioretti Chara just lets him skate by? Come on. Use your heads. It’s not even an interference call anywhere else on the ice, let alone a criminal charge as some of you donkeys are crying for. You want to bitch at someone, bitch at the guy who designed your rink, or the NHL for allowing there to be an immovable object at each end of the benches.
Also Chara doesn’t need to take cheap shots at anyone in this league, he’s not PK Subban, he’s not Alex Kovalev or whatever greaseball is wearing your jersey this year, he can more than handle himself along the walls, in front of the net, or in a fight. Chara doesn’t drop the gloves because he and everyone else in the league knows he will dominate and probably seriously hurt someone, not that there’s a french Canadian outside the league willing to admit that, but it’s true. Ask your local boy Lecavalier if Chara is a malicious guy, I seem to recall Chara not delivering the kill shot when Vinnie decided he was a tough guy for 5 seconds.
I’d say we’d like to see you clowns in the first round, but history shows we don’t handle long layoffs after 4 game series’ very well. No matter, unless you play Tampa theres no way you’re getting past a real hockey team in a 7 game series. No grit no heart a classic habs team.
Get well soon Max.