No discipline for Boychuk, so Canucks hope Raymond injury can inspire
Raymond
VANCOUVER — Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis made sure to make himself available to the media today for the first time since the Stanley Cup Final started.
He obviously had something to get off his chest about the hit by Johnny Boychuk that caused Canucks forward Mason Raymond to suffer a vertebrae compression fracture in last night’s Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final in Boston.
The league determined the play was an “awkward collision” and has not disciplined Boychuk. While the Canucks chartered home today, Raymond stayed back to be fitted for a brace.
“I haven’t had any discussion with [the league] after last night. All I can tell you is my observations of the hit,” said the Canucks GM. “I didn’t see the puck around him. I thought the Boston player used a can opener and drove him into the boards with enough force to break his back. That’s what I saw.
“I don’t have much more to say about that other than that observation.”
Gillis wouldn’t comment on the lack of discipline and only added that if the team gets Raymond back by November “we will be very happy.”
Much like Nathan Horton’s injury suffered in Game 3 has inspired the Bruins, the Canucks players are now left to hope that since Raymond can’t help them on the ice with his skills, his memory can provide then a little extra bounce.
“Obviously Mason is a popular guy on the team and we would love to have him in there,” said forward Christopher Higgins. “It’s unfortunate that he can’t play and we would love to win this one for him and for ourselves, too. It’s Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, so we’re going to have fun out there.”
Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault, however, wasn’t looking for everyone to rally around Raymond.
“For us, injuries and adversity have been part of our daily routine throughout this season and we faced every one of them head on,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate for Mason not to be able to play in the seventh game, but the guys that we have available are going to jump on the opportunity.
“We worked all year long to get home ice, to play in front of these great fans, to feed off their energy and that’s what we’re getting tomorrow. I think our home record is pretty good, too.”
With Raymond out, Jeff Tambellini will probably get a chance to play again for the Canucks. When asked about the availability of defensemen Alex Edler and Andrew Alberts, who were banged up in Game 6, Vigneault said “they’ll be fine.”
Boychuk did not speak today. Bruins head coach Claude Julien offered little in the way of analysis from the Boston side.
“Right now, to be honest with you, I haven’t looked at it that closely,” he said. “I don’t really have time to really bother with that when you’ve got Game 7 coming up. We’ve talked more about what we need to do here, not analyzing the injured player of the other team.”
John,
If you really think that no penalty should be called. You are just as bad as vancouver trolls are. There should be no suspension and there wasn’t. What we are questioning is the puck is 25 feet away and Boychuk is finishing his check. Blatant Interference.
We do look forward to the game tonight. Bring it on Boston. May the best team win tonight. This is the stuff we all dream about.
Vancouver Trolls,
The only person who complains as much as you about officiating is Gillis. That wasn’t even a borderline play. It was a weird play, where neither party was entirely responsible for the collision in the boards. If you want Boychuck suspended, Raymond should be suspended too, because he had just as much to do with hitting the boards. And enough with the garbage conspiracy theories about Bettman, Campbell et al. Do you actually hear yourself saying that? It’s absurd. This isn’t the NBA. And this isn’t a wacky American conspiracy to steal the cup from Canada. Just let it go and look forward to the game tonight
Brad, no complaints please. Your 1st line LW should have been suspended for game 2 and he won the game almost single handedly.
I dont think any of you pro boston lunatics have really considered how one sided the officiating has been in this series.. have a good look at it. Littleboychuck uses his stick and right leg to open him up and put him off balance , Raymond doesnt have a chance to touch the puck and boychuck doesnt try to play it.. interference and blatant disregard for another players safety is shown by the right skate push off as they collide with the boards. this incident should absolutely be reviewed.. you boston fans are blind and if you do win the cup it will be tainted by your ownerships close relationship with Bettman and Colin Cambells son belonging to your team.
Wasn’t at the game, but watching on TV I was not too happy with the strange response from the Garden faithful. Couldn’t tell exactly what the crowd was chanting, but it didn’t sound too good for a few minutes there. Hope that Raymond is able to make a speedy and full recovery; he’s a good, clean player who was victim of a weird interference play. Personally, I don’t think there was anything more than a 2min minor to be called on that play, so I’m happy to see no supplemental discipline.
I was not at the game, replayed it many times and I still cannot hear what the crowd was saying clearly. I would have to go with MCK or anyone else at the game I thought it was a flop because the hit didn’t look hard at all, but after 10 seconds I knew Raymond was legit. I never could have guessed in a final so many players would get hurt and miss multiple games. I have not read anyone other than fans saying the Garden taunted Raymond, maybe MattK can swoop in and answer.
I have a question. For all of you who are questioning the actions of the fans, were you there?
VanMike,
I’ll agree about the behavior of the fans but I don’t fault Boychuk for this hit. I’ve watched it several times and yeah, it was away from the play but it was not with any intent to injure. Hell, he did not even appear to hit him hard. This is just a freak accident.
Tell burrows when he stops biting people, we’ll stop booing is hurt friends.
I’ve never seen an organization so compelled to whine about anything after every single game. I think it’s fine for fans and media to talk so much but really the Canucks just can’t stop. First they like Thomas out of the crease because they thought it helped them, then they complain because they don’t like it. They happy with the NHL because they ruled in favor of Burrows but now they think the NHL is screwing them over. Rome made a clean hit but Boychuk ‘corkscrewed’ Raymond on purpose trying to hurt him. I can’t imagine what would happen if the Canucks lose tonight.
Boychuck engaged at the puck, not interference.
He barely finished his check, likely because Raymond was in an awkward position. Simply a freak accident, I’ve never seen a guy wind up in a position like that, very bizarre and unfortunate, but clearly not a suspension as Boychuck didn’t do anything wrong.
Vanmike you’re dead wrong on Rome, the guy has said in no uncertain terms that he doesn’t believe he did anything wrong, and that given the same circumstance he would react in the same way. You call that class? Cause the guy feels bad that he changed a persons life? I guess he doesn’t feel that bad about it if he’s willing to be quoted saying he’d do it again. Enjoy toiling in the minors Rome, I hope you lay awake at nights thinking how you blew your chance at the cup.
GO BRUINS
Well I agree that the “flopper” cheers while Raymond was down was low and uncalled for-especially when he continued to lay on the ice.
That said-looking at the video-the puck was under their feet when the hit was made-so I don’t think it was interference (you can see the puck shoot out from under their feet and I think go to Kesler’s stick).
Also, I don’t think Boychuck cork screwed him. Looking at the play-his stick is on the ice for the majority of the time, and as they go into the boards boychuks stick rises higher than their waists between them. If Boychuk corkscrewed him-at the very least the stick would have gone into the boards and likely broken.
I think the injury was mostly due to the awkward position.
BC1, Raymond was laying on the ice for several minutes. That is different than flopping, and that is what Bruins fans in attendance didn’t get. Raymond was injured. Simple enough. Has nothing to do with who started anything, whining and complaints, whether Boychuk intended anything (which I don’t think he did), etc. Just civility.
Hopefully Raymond will be well and fully recover. Boychuk showed no intent to injure Raymond. Cam Cole wrote that “the hit was clean” and he maintained objectivity…other ‘Nuck writers haven’t.
I have to disagree with Vanmike and Sox/Canucks fan…the “Nuck fans started the trash in games 1 & 2.
The embellishment by Burrows and Sedin has been an embarrassment to all ‘Nuck fans, the organization and the league. Would the Rogers Center fans believe a Bruin was really injured under the same circumstances?
This isn’t the first time Gillis has complained to the league these playoffs. He should concentrate on the team and not the sidebar issues. Let’s see what happens tonight in game 7.
Have to agree with Vanmike. Brutal, cheering while a guy who lies on the ice for minutes gets helped off by his teammates. What happened to the simple and civil act of polite applause, Bruins fans? Really classless.
Outstanding class shown by the bruins organization, their fans and the NHL. Rome expressed his regret immediately after his late hit on Horton. Boychuk has yet to say anything. Rome has tried repeatedly to text Horton to apologize personally. No response from Horton. The great fans in boston boo and chant while Raymond lies injured on the ice. Yes Cormac, I can see what a class organization you guys have there. But the icing on the cake is that Jeremy Jacobs just has to put in a call to Gary bettman
P.S. Mason Raymond looks like Oswald from The Drew Carey Show
You see this type of hit 1000 times per season. The difference maker was that Raymond tried to squirm out of the rub-out and wound up getting Pedigree’d unintentionally. You could see Manchuck didn’t put any force into it, either. It’s unfortunate; Raymond is a fast, skilled player who has been a lot of fun to watch. I hope he has a speedy recovery and can return to full strength.
On another note, I heard Mike Gillis storm out of the Garden last night flipping a nutty… come on. That’s just silly. Making a mockery out of a classy organization that Brian Burke worked hard to revitalize.
Gillis, like his team, is a humbug!
Compare the response to the Rome hit on Horton by the B’s organization to this response by the ‘nucks and you see the difference in class. B’s have class from top to bottom…the ‘nucks?…not so much.