Pronger gets 1 game suspension

One of hockey's biggest appeals is the hits, checks & fights. Admit it, if you like hockey, football wrestling, you like them because of the physicality of the respective sports; well, it's why I like 'em.

However, there are clean hits, and then there are these:


In this hit Tomas Holmstrom got taught what it was to be a target, but there's a line that was crossed. Looking over it a couple times you see Rob Niedermayer rush across the ice, shoulder into Holmstrom and skate away. Nothing dirty about it in my opinion, the 5 minute boarding, maybe, the game misconduct? Just a bad call and helps prove what Instant Replay would add to the game. However, when you're about to slam someone against the boards there are two things you don't do: touch his head, push down; Pronger did both. I admit my heart races when I see two guys hit someone like that; it's why I love hockey. But Pronger was way out of line. You don't lift your elbows like that, you don' push someone, face first, towards the edge of the boards where they meet the glass.

I'm just thankful that the NHL saw it appropriate to suspend him. I won't claim this was an intent to injure, if you want to see that go watch Chris Simon's 25 game suspension performance, but there's no need to raise an elbow to someones head in this sport, no need at all.

Enjoy your night off Pronger, I hope the team gives you hell for putting them in a rough situation being down a, I hate to admit, key player when they're down 2 games to 1 in the conference finals.

And Rob, don't hold back, your hit was clean man.