The Penguins survived a rough Game 3 last night, winning 3-2 in Tampa Bay. Marc-Andre Fleury again stood tall and a timely goal from Tyler Kennedy offset a Marty St. Louis power play goal which tied it at 2.
Of course, that was not the only story last night as Steve Downie again proved why he's a tool and Chris Kunitz finds himself in some hot water. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that these two hits are going to overshadow what has been a great series so far.
Downie was the first one to act in the game, leaving his feet and launching himself into the head of Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy, who was passing the puck from behind his net. Downie absolutely crushed Lovejoy on the play, sending him sprawling the to the ice but, thankfully, uninjured.
The only problem for Downie was that Max Talbot grabbed the puck while Downie was headhunting and scored a goal to make it 1-0. It was certainly not the first stupid thing Downie has done in his career and it won't be the last.
However, whether or not either player was injured on the hits is irrelevant. Both of these guy have to be sat down for at least a game by the NHL brass.
Steve Downie clearly leaves his feet and drives his shoulder into Lovejoy's head. It was a blindside hit as Lovejoy was coming around the net, the exact hit that Downie has been known for in his career.
Rule 48 clearly states: "A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted." Add Downie leaving his feet to that equation and you have yourself an illegal hit.
On the other side of things, Chris Kunitz really should have known better. His teammate Matt Cooke is sitting out for at least 14 games because of an elbow to the head of an opposing player.
I know he was upset about the Lovejoy hit but there are better ways to handle it than elbowing someone in the face. Payback has nothing to do with whether a hit is justified or not and Kunitz was definitely in the wrong on this one.
So what happens from here?
Unfortunately, this is the NHL we're dealing with here. No one seems to know what's going to happen. Raffi Torres tried to separate Brent Seabrook's head from his body the other night and he got no suspension at all. Torres is even the dreaded "repeat offender" since that was his first game back from a previous suspension.
Knowing the NHL, I'll bet that Kunitz gets one game and that Downie gets nothing. That's not saying the NHL hates the Penguins or whatever, it just seems to be their track record.
Colin Campbell will trot himself out on his high horse and state that Downie's play was a "hockey hit" while Kunitz's elbow was "malicious and designed to injure." Pittsburgh fans will be irate and Lightning fans will yell that the suspension isn't long enough.
It's all just another night in the NHL Playoffs
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