well obviously I disagree that Carkner's attack and Hagelin's are equal and that Carkner should have received more games.
Carkner's move was pre-meditated - we figured he would go after Boyle, but it wasn't intent to injure like Hagelin's targeting Alfie's head.
Carkner was sending a message, not trying to injure. You can argue that punching a guy can indeed give a concussion, but at least he's holding the guy up and not slamming him into the glass and he's using fists instead of incredibly thick and hard plastic (ie. the elbow pad!).
Hagelin's hit has far more injury consequences by hitting Alfie with that chunk of plastic, full on skating and slamming him into the boards. I'm no physicist, but I would think the amount of force from that hit on Alfie has alot more than guy's fist. Let's not even get into how Hagelin wasn't even trying to hit Alfie's body and completely lead with his elbow and directed it at the head. lol Not at all the same as what Carkner did imho.
Not all at the same as Bertuzzi on Moore. Carkner went after Boyle along the boards, face to face - not sucker punching him from behind in the middle of the ice then jumping on his back to slam his face. Yes, Boyle didn't fight back, but that was his choice. Moore had no choice to make - Bertuzzi made it for him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz9RE9RGrVY
I do agree with you on the punching while on the ice - I never agree with that either. Letang did that to Timonen yesterday. The fighting 'code' seems to have disappeared for the most part.
But I think this is all the NHL's fault and a directive from Bettman. If the linesman would just p*ss off and let guys fight instead building tensions and forcing players to resort to these shady tactics, I believe most of the problems would be resolved themselves.
Classic example was yesterday with Crosby and Giroux. They wanted to go, the linesman stepped in, players milled around, Crosby knocks some guys' glove away, Timonen steps in, Crosby grabs him, Giroux grabs Crosby, Letang grabs Timonen and Crosby / Giroux finally go.
If the linesman would have just let them fight the first time, there wouldn't have been the build up and 1 less fight (Letang/Timonen) probably wouldn't have happened.
Bettman seems to keep thinking that if you make hockey less violent, the southern US states will tune in. Wrong! The US loves their football - especially the south and it overrules all except baseball. Keep hockey in the northern States and a few more teams in Canada. I've always thought that to be ironic given that football is very violent with the big hits etc... very similar to hockey, but hockey won't catch on. I'm convinced.
But, whatever the case may be, I can't remember a playoff year where so many teams are fighting and going after each so hard. I remember when if there was a fight in the playoffs, it was rare. This year, it's the complete opposite.
I sure wish I could be at the game here tonight. Ottawa fans are normally quiet, but the few playoff games I've been to the past have been deafening and game 2 has everyone buzzing. Tonight will be insane.
