Video: Bruins’ Marchand may have gotten away with one vs. Umberger
Marchand
The local broadcast sort of glossed over the play, so the only video I’ve seen of it since it happened in tonight’s second period is this grainy, slow-motion video relayed by Yahoo! Sports hockey writer Greg Wyshynski from a reader.
But upon my live viewing of Bruins forward Brad Marchand’s hit on Columbus’ R.J. Umberger in the neutral zone while pursuing a loose puck during the Bruins’ 3-2 win, it looked like nothing more than a potential interference call.
This video, while grainy, clearly shows Marchand hitting Umberger’s head. I’d like to see the hit with the screen expanded so we can see exactly where Marchand’s coming from. A quick Web search just now didn’t turn up anymore clips of the hit, which was only shown on NESN once more — as far as I recall — after it was shown live.
As the poster mentions, there was no penalty. In fact, Marchand got a scoring chance after the Bruins got the puck.They scored their first goal of the night about 30 seconds later.
If Umberger was injured, he didn’t show it much, as he returned to the game and skated 25 shifts total for the night.
After the game, he spoke to the Columbus Post-Dispatch. The Puck-Rakers blog posted this quote from the veteran forward:
“I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard he might have left his feet with an elbow. That’s what it felt like. … You got to think that’s one of the hits we are trying to eliminate whether it’s inadvertent or not.”
It’ll be interesting to see if the league reviews the matter and doles out some supplemental discipline to Marchand, who for the time being seems to have gotten away with one. Globe & Mail hockey writer James Mirtle points out via Twitter that this hit is similar to the one Pavel Kubina was suspended three games for last week. Here’s the Kubina elbow:
So we could be looking at another hearing with the league for a Bruins player following up on Zdeno Chara and Daniel Paille’s previous hearings.
The NHL should at least have to answer for the reasoning behind failing to penalize the hit to the head.
He is a Bruin, why even bother wasting time we all know he will get nothing
When you watch it back – and especially when you watch it in slow-mo, I think it looks a lot worse than it really is. Regardless, I don’t think it was a good hit at all and I would not want any B’s to be on a receiving end of such a hit; although there was no injury on the play – intentional or not, it could have been a lot worst and it is something the league is trying to do away with. With that said, I would call it a penalty – but not a suspension. But knowing what the league is going through with head-shots, Marchand should get a 2-gamer.
Looch crosses the line occasionally, but comes back over in a hurry. Whether or not the league sits him Julien should. I was surprised the refs let that go when I saw it, since they called lesser infractions, and that was a dangerous hit. Give him some discipline either way, even if Glyder gets back in the lineup.
Bruins4life, you really have trouble defending yourself as a Bruins fan? I find it quite easy. We play physical, not dirty. We have many guys who stick up for their teammates and are willing to drop the gloves in a fair fight, and we WIN our fights. Lucic had been developing a reputation as a dirty player in previous years but he has shown much class this year. Nothing to be ashamed about when it comes to the Bruins.
Yeah, this was a bad decision by Marchy. Nothing incidental about it; I’d almost compare it to the Steckel-on-Crosby hit, though that looked a little more unintentional than this.
The league has to hold people responsible not just for what they do intentionally, but also for not paying proper attention to where they have their arm or their stick. This was not a dive. Marchy deserves to sit for a few games. I wish Claude would call up Caron if that happens, just to show Glyder he’s not messing around.
See, I don’t have a problem with a game or 2 for that hit, so maybe they’ll start removing them from the game. Completely worse, IMO, than the Chara scenario.
As soon as I saw it, I thought it was borderline. Whether it was intentional or not, the fact that he sort of stuck his arm out there makes it more likely. I would have no problem with 3 games like Kubina got. However, the idea that the Bruins are a dirty team is wrong. I think they just play more physical, and sometimes that leads to guys getting a little carried away. They do not make a habit of head shots more than any other team. The main reason people think they are dirty is because they fight so much. I personally like the fighting. Obviously, I prefer the actual hockey, but fighting is part of the game, and the Bruins are better at it than most other teams.
I thought it was a bad hit/missed call when it happened. Not intentional, but bad nonetheless. Wouldn’t be surprised if he received a few games.
After looking at the better clip, i’m leaning much more toward dirty.
It looks sketchy from that horrible angle, but I’d like to see it from in front of those guys before anyone here can make the claim the hit was bad. Try not to forget there were a few “embellishments” by the Blue Jackets last night. Not defending the hit if it’s dirty, but there is no way anyone can definitively say it is from that slow motion terrible angle.
That looks pretty bad actually. I have no problem if the NHL sits Marchand down for that.
My only problem is the Bruins will have to put Ryder back in the lineup. Last night was a relief and a glimpse into the future
Thanks for being objective. That was a pretty obvious headshot. Luckily the head rolled with the hit well enough.
Good news on Pacioretti. He’s not really feeling the effects of his concussion today. I’m sure you know with Bergeron and Savard that these things take time but the kid is improving. Vertebrae still fractured unfortunately
As a life long Bruins fan, I must say that I am really pissed with these cheap shots. I must also say that I am also embrassed by the play of the Briuns over the last couple of years. They have made this team a total classless act with crap like this. I am now finding it hard to defend the Bruins to my friends across the country
Is this the same Brad Marchand that was calling the Canadiens a bunch of dirty players a few weeks ago, interesting. Bruin fans should be outraged at this clown and his antics (however, I doubt they will be, somehow they will justify it as a hockey play). Lets not forget that Marc Savard is one head shot from ending his career, if he isn’t finished already.
When I saw it live I thought it was a backchecking hit from behind/possible headshot but I couldn’t tell if Marchand hit Umberger’s head. Looking at the replay, looks like he hit his head. I’m sure the league will take a look at that.
Slowing down the vid to the few frames it shows can make it look a lot worse than it actually is. I will hold off judgment until I see a longer clip, but as I recall Marchand was chasing the puck through the neutral zone and at the time it didn’t seem like a big deal.