Lapierre Suspended For 4 Games....Are You Kidding Me?

The National Hockey League announced today that Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre has been suspended 4 games for his hit on the Sharks Scott Nichol in last nights game. Nichol broke in on a breakaway, was stopped, and Lapierre while in pursuit cross checked him causing him to fall awkwardly into the boards. Nichol was down briefly until he realized there was no penalty on the play so he popped up and got involved in the scrum that ensued after. Apparently Nichol did not return after the hit, although it was in the 3rd period and he plays on the 4th line, so the odds of him getting a shift were slim at best anyway. One of the referees was literally 3 feet away from the play, staring straight at it, yet didn't think it was a penalty. Nor did the other official or the 2 linesman who have the ability to call a major penalty if they see fit. So none of the officials even thought it was a minor penalty, yet Colin Campbell thinks it's enough to warrant a 4 game suspension. Lapierre has never been suspended at the NHL level, so I would assumed he is considered a first time offender.

This is one of the things that is wrong with the NHL. A player known as an agitator commits a play like this, which I'm sure he regrets, but I highly doubt there was any intent whatsoever to injure the other player, and gets 4 games. If Heatley, Marleau or Thornton does the same thing it doesn't even make the highlight tape, much less get a suspension. Hell Rob Blake threw Tomas Plekanec to the ice the same game and continued to drive his head into the ground (while Plekanec was without a helmet) yet gets a matching minor with Pleks. It's all about who you are in a lot of cases like this.

And let's not forget Milan Lucic cross checked Lapierre in the face and gets 1 game. Ruutu throws a deliberate elbow on Lapierre (and had a suspension before) and got 2 games. I have no idea why Campbell would give a 4 game suspension. Maybe he was caught up listening to that rat Ray Ferraro who was playing tough guy from 40 feet above the ice. Ray, we all had access to TV's when you played. Don't try to act like you were a killer.

I'm not going to act like Lapierre is totally innocent in this case or by any means a saint. I'm sure he regrets this play and wishes it would have never happened. But we see plays worse than this every game. Earlier in the game Moore got cross-checked into the cross bar, and no one bats an eye. The NHL needs to set consistent guidelines that everyone knows, not just make up rules and regulations depending on the player. Think about this...Ovechkin has been involved in multiple questionable hits the past two seasons, but has only received one 2 game suspension (after he was injured while kneeing the player anyway). No double standard.....right.