JIM LANG ON SPORTS
BY: Jim Lang
For www.rodpedersen.com
TORONTO — Wednesday night the Minnesota Wild beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in a shoot-out. The loss was the Leafs’ second in a row and their third in four games. Two things stood out in the game.
One: I hate the shoot-out. I am thrilled to hear that NHL General Managers are in serious talks to amend the current over-time rules. In one proposal there would be five minutes of 4-on-4 hockey followed by five minutes of 3-on-3. Some other GM’s offered up a counter-proposal that would feature four minutes of 4-on-4, then four minutes of 3-on-3. Now this doesn’t mean the shoot-out is being scrapped. But at least if they are forced to play 3-on-3 for a period of time there would be enough time and open ice to score a goal. Anything that creates a scenario where someone can score to prevent a shoot-out, I’m all for it.
Two: What happened to hitting in hockey? In the third period of Wednesday night’s loss to the Wild forward Nazem Kadri of the Leafs was given a match penalty and kicked out of the game after he hit Mikael Granlund. There is no doubt it was a hard hit; but a hit worthy of a match penalty? Not a chance. Kadri’s elbow was down and he made contact with his shoulder. I see dozens of hits every week in the NHL that are worse than that and they don’t result in a match penalty.
Now earlier in the game Kadri collided with Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom in the crease and Backstrom had to leave the game with a head injury. Kadri was given an interference penalty on the play and that was it. So you are left to wonder if the match penalty for the hit on Granlund was a make-up call for not given him a harsher penalty for running into Backstrom. But I encourage you to take a look at the video of Kadri’s hit on Granlund. There is no way that is a hit worthy of a match penalty.
Hockey is still a contact sport. Hitting is allowed in the NHL. Do I want to see “Matt Cooke” type flying elbows to the head? No way. There is no place for that in the game. But the hit Kadri laid on Granlund is what hockey was the kind of thing that has been in the sports forever. Now there comes word that Kadri is facing a hearing for the hit on Backstrom, and not the one on Granlund.
The bigger question for other players around the league is the reality that refs around the league will interpret what is a hit worthy of a match penalty far differently than the next guy. So the hit that is fine with the refs on Tuesday night Edmonton might result in you getting kicked out of the game Friday night in Chicago.
Meanwhile the Leafs will likely be with-out Kadri for at least one game on a team already razor thin at centre. The timing is awful as the Leafs are in Buffalo Friday night for the first of a home-and-home against Ted Nolan and the new-look Sabres.
NHL
Put me in the category of those people who love the Dallas Stars new uniforms. It is a nice, clean look and reminds me a bit of the old Minnesota North Stars uniforms. While I think the Stars uniforms are awesome, the team isn’t too bad either. Wednesday night Tyler Seguin scored his eighth goal of the year as the Stars beat the Oilers to improve to 6-2 and 2 in their past 10 games.
It is sad to see how poorly the Oilers are playing. That was the Oilers fourth straight loss and drops them to 1-8 and 1 in their past 10 games. I got to know Dallas Eakins a bit when he coached the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. I found him to be a good man and you would be hard pressed to find someone who has more passion for hockey than Dallas. The sad reality for Eakins and the Oilers is that they simply don’t have enough talent yet to turn it around.
CFL
I happy to report there have been brisk ticket sales for the upcoming Eastern Final at Rogers Centre between the Argonauts and the Ti-Cats. The demand for tickets is so great that the team has decided to open up some sections of the 500 level. Lost in the euphoria of the ticket sales is the sober news that running back Chad Kackert is out for the year with a broken ankle. While the Ti-Cats go into the game with a two-header quarterbacking monster there are no such issues in Toronto. Ricky Ray is the man in Toronto and if the Argos offensive line can provide him adequate protection then the Ti-Cats are in big trouble. In such a small league like the CFL it is amazing to think that this is the first Eastern Final between the Argos and the Ti-Cats since 1986.
NFL
There will be a distinct hint of “Rider Pride” tonight in Tennessee as the 4-5 Titans host the 6-3 Colts. The Colts leading tackler is linebacker Jerrell Freeman, the former Rider. Not only does Freeman have 75 tackles, he has three and half sacks and two forced fumbles. This is also a game the Colts need to win in order to solidify their hold on first place in the AFC South.
On Sunday the 9-0 Chiefs are in Denver take on the 8-1 Broncos in a huge AFC West showdown. According to the NFL the combined winning percentage of the two teams (17-1 .944) is the best in a single game this late in the season since December of 1969 when the 11-0 Rams met the 10-1 Vikings. The 8:30PM EST start time will allow CFL fans to watch both the Eastern and Western Final and still make it in time for the opening kick-off of this game.
(Follow Jim on Twitter at @JimLangSports)
Hello Jim? Did you know that there are more provinces West of Ontario? And, there is another Final CFL game this weekend? Where is the write up on that? Sad…very sad…..
Great addition to your blog Roddy.
Wholeheartedly agree with his NHL comments.
Kadri's hit on Granlund was a perfectly clean hit, and sadly, one that they're doing everything they can to eliminate and further pussify the game. This trend has to stop.
I also detest the shootout! This gimmick doesn't belong in professional hockey!
And btw, the new uni's of Dallas look great.
Auggie Daddy
Gee, I don't know…maybe Lang thinks it would be more valuable to provide some content you CAN'T get everywhere else (including all over this blog)? Just a thought.
Clean hit? Not even close, kadri had ample time to adjust his angle of attack, he also did not slow down prior to making contact and hit him full on, in the head. Which is something they are trying to get rid of, plain and simple.
I don't agree with Lang on Edmonton's problems. They haven't scored a goal in their last three games. It's entirely a structured coaching deal. Eakins was told to make every forward in the ilk of MacTavish. The forwards are so consumed with their defensive game that they've lost their natural instinct to go towards the net and score. Edmonton has been doing it for years. Sam Gagner has been there 6 years and his best season was his rookie year when he was 18 years old. They said you're pretty good we'll turn you into a hockey player and it's… Read more »
Anonymous 4th post-
Yeah, he didn't slow down to make the hit or adjust the angle… why the hell should he? It was a fair and legal hit! Chest dead center! The incidental contact to the head was only on the follow through.
Cripes! What next? Pink lacy tu-tu's??
Who cares about the Laffs. What about the Riders. Remember this is Saskatchewan not Friggin Ontario.
Glad to see that there will be a good crowd on hand in TO for the game. It blows me away how Toronto likes to think of themselves as the center of the Canadian universe, yet they aren't out there supporting a great game that truly is exclusively Canadian (except for a few forgettable years in the 90's). That Skydome should be packed for every game with their population base. Hell, Olympic Stadium used to be. What happened?
Rex
Chest dead center? Check your eyes bro, primary contact was his head, and he hit him at an angle. They call that a dangerous hit. If anything, thats charging or possibly boarding, not even close to being a clean hit.
Hit him at an angle?? What the hell's that? Every hit is at an "angle"!
ps- eyes are fine.