I was going to mention this last night, but figured too many here would give me the bum's rush, so I didn't post it. I also wanted to see if my observation was echoed anywhere else. It has been, so I know I'm not seeing things.

BRACE YOURSELF:

If you take a good look at the tape of the hit on Pominville you'll notice a couple things. First, he appears to look up and survey what's going on around him just before the Hjalmarsson hit. From what I can see, he may have seen Hjalmarsson coming and kept his body twisted while waiting for the puck, so as to make sure he could stand there with his back technically to Hjalmarsson--discouraging a hit from "behind". It really did appear that Hjalmarsson was hitting him from the side, so much so, that as he hit Pominville, his left leg was actually in front of Pominville's.

So, in short, it IS possible that Pominville positioned himself to capitalize on the rule against hitting from behind, but got the short end of the stick instead.

So getting hit between the numbers is from the side? Yea ok.

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mechaphil

Pommers had his head up to anticipate the puck and Blackhawk coming from the front and side.

But this is all moot - Hjalmarsson had more than five strides to decide whether or not he was gonna board Pommer. He decided to board him anyways. Suspension deserved.

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mechaphil

You completely missed the point of the post.

No I didn't read the second post I made.

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mechaphil

All I'm saying is that Pominville MAY have taken a chance by making himself vulnerable, perhaps on purpose, to discourage the hit from Hjalmarsson. He ended up getting hit.

Hjalmarsson is the one who made the hit, so of course he should get the suspension.

All I'm saying is that Pominville may have made a gamble and lost.

This DOES go on in sports.

You are exactly the type of person that drives me nuts. Pomminville was hit from behind into the boards, and has a concussion. The opposing player had plenty of strides to let up. End of Story, there is no debating that.

What you're suggesting is that players shouldn't hang out along the boards without the puck, because they run the risk of being hit...thats stupid. Thats not hockey, and anybody who says it is, has never played at any sort of level where checking was allowed.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Oh hey. The guy sees me. I get to bash his neck into the boards and almost break it.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

So you're saying Pominville should've ignored the puck that was approaching his stick because he thought he might get hit illegally?

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mechaphil

What I'm saying is that it looked like Pominville MAY have tried to position himself where he was twisted so he was kind of sideways, but with most of his back technically toward Hjalmarsson. That way he can remain in position without having to worry about a sideways hit.

Look at the tape again and try to have an open mind.

No, Pominville did not deserve to get laid out and Hjalmarsson had to be suspended, but it's not as straight forawrd as some here would have you believe if you didn't watch the tape.

yeah, pominville risked even more serious injury just to get the sabres a 5 minute pp which they couldn't even capitalize on. that makes sense.

there's gonna be a blackhawk down on saturday night. recognize.

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young people everywhere have been allowed to choose between love and a garbage disposal unit. everywhere they have chosen the garbage disposal unit. (guy debord)

You're honestly here saying we didn't watch the hit?

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mechaphil

So, you're saying you're an expert?

Sutton'd!

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Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

I think everyone is kinda missing the point.

OP is suggesting that Pominville saw Hjalsakfsejkf approaching him and tried to turn his body so as to discourage Hjalsajkhfsfbsvk from hitting him since it would be an illegal hit and gain better position to get the puck, putting himself in a risky position. Obviously he ended up hurt in taking the gamble the OP is alleging he could have taken. I'm guessing OP means that Pominville wasn't intentionally trying to get hurt or take the hit and suffer the consequences, but that he may have seen him coming and decided to pursue the puck anyway and hopefully discourage the hit from behind.

I'm sure he could have thought something like this, but I would be under the impression that any player would avoid getting hurt and that if Pominville did see Hjalkfhska;bv coming, he would have tried to avoid him altogether because he was coming full force and Pominville isn't a physical player by nature.

It's interesting to think about, but I don't think a player would put themselves in a position knowing that there is a high risk of being injured.

OP- I'll be honest with you. I had a little bit of the same feelings after seeing the replays DURING THE GAME. I questioned whether or not it was even an illegal hit. I then checked out a replay a youtube and wathced it probably 20 times. It was a brutal, illegal hit, no question. Hjalmerson (sp) probably just made a mistake, now he'll pay the price. Hopefully he learns, and hopefully Pommers is okay.

I certainly haven't missed the point, I'm saying he's wrong.

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mechaphil

Well, Phil, that's the beauty of having an opinion. It's subjective.

My point about all this is that the hit was deemed illegal by the NHL. IDC who does it, what their record is. THe two games is deserved, he'll get his ass kicked on saturday. Then we'll all move on.

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No one is disputing his suspension. He definitely should have been. The point is, Pominville took the risk to put himself in the position to be hit from behind, hoping that Hjalsfwfhiwf would say to himself, "hmmm this hit is mad illegal. Perhaps I shouldn't do it," but we all know how it ended up.

I see where OP is coming from, but I disagree because part of what makes hits from behind so bad is that players don't know they're coming and can't prepare themselves. I feel like, naturally, any person would instinctively try to get the fuck out of the way to not get hurt. You're in an incredibly vulnerable position when you're against the boards. The hit was dirty and I think two games are too few, but hopefully Pominville's concussion isn't a terrible one. Although, I hope he takes ample time to recover because concussions are nothing to fuck with.

Wait, are you saying that Pominville positioned himself that way to purposely get hit by Hjalmarsson, so that Hjalmarsson would get penalized for it? Why would ANY player risk a serious head/neck injury just for a player to get a 5 minute major and a game misconduct?

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