Burrows boarding Gaudreau, then instigating a fight with Russell

[Yadba]

Was at the game last night and thought it was strange, don't think I've ever seen it before where the guy who just made a big hit (and took a penalty) goes on to initiate a fight right after. Usually its the other way around with an instigator standing up for for their teamate that just was leveled.

Check 1:29 of the replay, Russell looks like hes skating away and Burrows comes after him.




No suspension for Burrows for the instigator in the final minutes of a game, saw that coming after the NHL rescinded Engelland's in after Game 2. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl-expected-to-re...nalty-1.262008

[chuckcouples]

I dislike Alex Burrows the hockey player as much as the next guy, but that was a perfectly clean body check. (I know by definition it was boarding but by definition any hit where a player touches the boards can be boarding) He then thought that Russell was going to fight him so he didn't wait for Russell to drop the gloves and took the initiative. I have no problems with either of these actions by Alex Burrows and I can't believe I just typed that.

[CascadeFilly]

It does look bad, but it also looks like Russell turns his head towards Burrows, and I would guess that he's chirping at him, possibly indicating that he wants to fight. Obviously there's no way to know. It looks bad, but it is playoff hockey. It's nice to see the emotions so high in some of these games.

[Stringer]

Burrows can go eat a bag of male chickens.

[The Comish]

It's an art form to come from behind a guy who is engaged in a puck battle with another player, so he can't see you coming, hit him into the boards while not hitting him in the numbers. I also don't see Burrows dropping the mitts so quickly if it wasn't Kris Russell, who finished the season with 17 penalty minutes all year.

If they rescind enough of these things, why don't they take it out of the rule book? Seriously. I'm okay with the NHL going all wild west, heck that was the hockey I remember, even in the regular season, but if you're not going to enforce a rule that's on the books, get it off the books.

[audiopile]

They need to write separate sets of rules if there is going to be this much disparity between regular season and playoffs. That way everyone is on the same page, from officials, to players, management and fans.

[The Comish]

They need to write separate sets of rules if there is going to be this much disparity between regular season and playoffs. That way everyone is on the same page, from officials, to players, management and fans.

This is my major beef with the NHL. No other league that I am aware of has different rules for the regular season and another for the playoffs. Baseball doesn't shrink the strike zone, basketball punishes hard fouls the same regardless of when they happen (don't they?) and especially football, a hold is a hold is a hold, whether it's in the 1st quarter of the 1st game of the season or in the Super Bowl, it's a penalty.

Plus, the constant emphasis on which rules they are supposed to call or have zero tolerance on changes every god damned year in the NHL. What other league does this!? No one that's who.

Let them play and take the chicken shite stuff out. It's not like they are going to lower scoring anymore than they already have!

[Reuben]

The hit on Gaudreau is brutal. Guy is two feet from the boards, engaged, and he gets hit from the blindside, head-first into the boards. Those are the hits that need to be taken out of the game -- but that will almost 100% be on the players to stop, and that won't happen.

The fight with Russell was nothing. Russell is beaking, Burrows just got the jump. You see that in half the fights in the league.

But I really didn't like the hit.

[rataylor22]

The hit on Gaudreau is brutal. Guy is two feet from the boards, engaged, and he gets hit from the blindside, head-first into the boards. Those are the hits that need to be taken out of the game -- but that will almost 100% be on the players to stop, and that won't happen.

The fight with Russell was nothing. Russell is beaking, Burrows just got the jump. You see that in half the fights in the league.

But I really didn't like the hit.

What Bieksa pulled on Ferland was far worse than what Burrows pulled on Russell

[The Comish]

What Bieksa pulled on Ferland was far worse than what Burrows pulled on Russell

Agreed. I was livid that the refs didn't call Bieksa for the instigator when he was wailing away before Ferland even knew he was in a fight! I guess the refs were tired of having their instigator penalties overturned by the league and decided to stop calling them! lol

[Reuben]

What Bieksa pulled on Ferland was far worse than what Burrows pulled on Russell

Yes, I agree.

[newfcollins]

If only Burrows had shown this level passion against the Bruins in the finals a couple of years ago.

Oh wait, this is Burrows. He won't fight against people who can fight back.

[VintageVibe]

Don't know how anyone can say the hit was clean. Blindsided into the boards. Could've been a lot worse - I'll grant you that but that was a dirty play by a slimey player on a team down two goals with a minute left.

[rataylor22]

Don't know how anyone can say the hit was clean. Blindsided into the boards. Could've been a lot worse - I'll grant you that but that was a dirty play by a slimey player on a team down two goals with a minute left.

Calgary is lucky Gaudreau took that contact well. Very dirty/dangerous hit.

[ShawneePanthers]

Hate Burrows, would love to see someone destroy him with an open ice hit