DETROIT, Mich – For most of these playoffs the tandem of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been touted as the next big deal in the National Hockey League. Apparently that translates to untouchable–going even as far as the long arm of Colin Campbell in the NHL front office. With 18 seconds remaining in Game 2 on Sunday evening Pittsburgh’s Max Talbot stuck his stick in the midsection of goalie Chris Osgood. His defense for the action was he was poking at the puck. For his efforts Talbot received a minor for slashing. The action quickly escalated to Malkin trac king down Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg and initiating a fight. Malkin was called for 5 for fighting, a 10-minute misconduct (which the league did say afterwards should have included an extra misconduct for not having his fight strap tied) and a minor instigator call. It would seem clear what happened on the ice would call for a suspension–after all it is in the rule book. Not so. The rule is called 47.22 and it reads thusly; 47.22 Fines and Suspensions – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) – A player or goalkeeper who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime, shall automatically be suspended for one game. The Director of Hockey Operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties. “None of the criteria in this rule applied,” Campbell said in a statement from the NHL offices. “Suspensions are applied under this rule when a team attempts to send a message in the last five minutes by having a player instigate a fight. A suspension could also be applied when a player seeks retribution for a prior incident. Neither was the case here.” Or was there? It seems Campbell has the rule wrong, there is supposed to be a reason, or reasons, for rescinding the suspension, not for meting out the punishment. Zetterberg has been a thorn in the side of the golden boys playing for Pittsburgh this series. At least for two games, he has shut down Crosby and impacted Malkin’s play. The 2008 Stanley Cup Finals were an education for Malkin and Crosby. Through two games this year, the pair of “untouchables” has displayed some lessons learned but they have yet to control the petulance of youth and the aura the NHL has created around them. Campbell and the NHL turned their backs on their rules for the everyday NHL player in an effort to keep their TV ratings somewhere above JV volleyball. And not for the first time in these playoffs. One only needs to look back at Carolina’s Scott Walker’s punch to Boston’s Aaron Ward’s face to see the blindfold might be slightly askew over the NHL’s eyes. Malkin picked on the wrong player in Zetterberg. The Red Wings are loaded with unheralded players like Dan Cleary, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader, the latter who abused Marc-Andre Fleury in the third. Zetterberg did more damage to the Penguins by irritating Malkin than any other player on the Detroit bench. Malkin took the bait, Crosby shook his head in disbelief and the Penguins go home down 2-0 in a series they were ordained by the NHL to star. One could only wonder the outcome had some Detroit player without a marquee name attacked Crosby or Malkin in the last seconds of the game? But I guess we all know the answer to that question don’t we? Contact lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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