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Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:59 pm EDT

Puck Headlines: Debating the legality of another Pronger hit

By Greg Wyshynski

Here are your Evening Puck Headlines and Preview: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• YouTube legend "DayWalk3r" sent this clip along, which shows a much-discussed (on the Interwebs) hit by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger on Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings from Wednesday night's game.

No injury, no penalty ... but what do you think about this one, in light of our discussion earlier today and in light of who is doing the hitting? Because The Two-Line Pass believes "Chris Pronger should be fired into the sun."

• Eric McErlain reports that Alexander Ovechkin will be back in D.C. on Sunday after visiting his ailing grandfather in Russia, and details a crazy KHL game Ovie attended that was cut short after military flares were set off in the arena. [FanHouse]

• Three bits of Puck Daddy house cleaning: Please remember our Florida Panthers ticket contest is running through Nov. 5; please note that our first Reader Comment Awards will be published on Saturday; and please check out Puck Daddy Friday morning for a really, really killer interview. Thanks again for reading. On to the 23,000 previews for tonight's action.

Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. EDT; TV: RDS, KSTC). Clash of the titans here. The Wild finally lost a game in regulation last night in Dallas. Michael Russo stirs the pot by asking Saku Koivu if he'd like to play with Mikko Koivu next season. We go to Four Habs Fans for this kind of analysis: "The Koivus have faced each other twice in the past, with Koivu getting two assists in those games while Koivu has been held pointless."

Preview: Detroit Red Wings at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. EDT; TV: FSD, CSBA). Man, what a fun game. Lingering animosity, two teams on a roll right now -- San Jose's off to the best start in franchise history -- and, of course, the first regular season battle between former Wings assistant and current Sharks Coach Todd McLellan against his former team. McLellan: "A lot of things that I brought with me from Detroit, we're trying to play that way, so we'll see who can do it better."

Preview: Atlanta Thrashers at New York Rangers (7 p.m. EDT; TV: SS, MSG). The Rangers attempt to extend their preposterously good start against the struggling Thrash, shaking up their lines a bit. The Rangers traded away Hugh Jessiman to the Nashville Predators today for futures. The Rangers do a lot of things well; drafting in the first round isn't one of them.

Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. EDT; TV: SUN, MSG). Center Paul Gaustad will play tonight for the Sabres, while Craig Rivet and Henrick Tallinder are skating again. Something doesn't seem right with the world when the Sabres are healthy. Go, go Stamkos! The drive for Point Deux is on!

Preview: New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. EDT; TV: MSG, CSP).  Are the Flyers now relegated to No. 3 status in Philadelphia after the Phillies' World Series win? Oh, and Rick DiPietro is now in IR, per Chris Botta. So long fantasy league, hello booze.

Preview: Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. EDT; TV: FSFL, NHLN). Despite having played a bizonkers game against Ottawa last time out, Craig Anderson rides the pine and Tomas Vokoun will start against some other crappier goalie. Sens fans are really impressed with the hometown discount Daniel Alfredsson gave Ottawa.

Preview: Edmonton Oilers at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. EDT; TV: OPPV, FSS). Lowetide loves what it's seeing out of the Edmonton defense these days, and the Predators' defense is really quite good, too. The way these two teams play, this could be one that you check on Center Ice once or twice tonight. And not just because we may have a helping of delicious Pekka Rinne tonight.

Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at St. Louis Blues (8:30 p.m. EDT; TV: FSS, FSMW). Wow, there's still a ton of Rod Brind'Amour nostalgia in St. Louis: "Brind'Amour turned 38 in August. Remember when he was a pimply-faced 19-year-old when he made his debut for the Blues back in 1989-90? That's a lot of $9 beers ago."

Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. EDT; TV: FSOH, ALT). Besides the fact that Andrew Raycroft is in goal and Rick Nash is (ugh) playing center, one extra bit of intrigue tonight: The return of first game between the traitorous Adam Foote to Columbus and the Blue Jackets since getting traded last season. (Ed. Note: Had the home team wrong at first. Apologies.)

Preview: Boston Bruins at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. EDT; TV: NESN, RSW). Goalie Tim Thomas appears to be getting the start again after back-to-back shutouts. Should be a good chess match (or snoozer, depending on how you feel about these things) between Mike Keenan and Claude Julien.

Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Phoenix Coyotes (10 p.m. EDT; TV: FSPI, FSAZ). Maxime Talbot and Hal Gill should be back tonight for the Penguins, who are going to reveal their Winter Classic-inspired alternate jersey next week. In case you missed it, Phoenix is worth about as much as a Dan Cloutier second-year card. 

Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. EDT; TV: CPPV, FSW). Finally, two teams hoping to get to the .500 mark. Some lineup changes for the Canucks, as they face a Kings team with a reunited O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Brown line.

• Wow, that was a lot of previews. This deserves a mental health break. Thank you, cheerleaders at the IIHF Champions Hockey League Group C match between Slovan Bratislava and Salavat Yulagev at the Samsung Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia. Thank you very much:

Related: Hockey Fans, Goons and Pugilism, Puck Videos

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76 Comments

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  1. b b
    1. Posted by b b Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

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    I am advocate for big hits, but come on.... the puck is clear across the ice. Maybe Spongebob Pronger should work on getting the puck and trying to move it for his team. Maybe then the Ducks would not be so horrible.
  2. hockeytown blood
    2. Posted by hockeytown blood Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    Yeah Pronger had another blatant punch to Dats about 5 plays after that - literally just punched him, again with no call. I hope that guy is a fatality in a DUI.
  3. Almost Lewboski
    3. Posted by Almost Lewboski Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    I don't normaly like to see someone get hurt on the ice, but I'll admit that last season I giggled like a school girl when Pronger took Patrick Sharps stick in his gapped choppers. I also agree with firing him into the sun.
  4. Kor L
    4. Posted by Kor L Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    its columbus AT colorado
    and its not adam footes return to col
  5. Wyshynski
    5. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ Kor L
    Thanks. Dyslexia setting in.
  6. GEO/Avslova
    6. Posted by GEO/Avslova Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    Yeah, but technically, Foote is returning to the Pepsi Center ice after a brief road game to play his old team that really shouldn't be called old because they aren't that old to begin with.
    So really the point was made pretty well.
  7. ears
    7. Posted by ears Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

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    Pronger sure did quickly go from a pretty good D-Man to a has been who's only point of being is attempting to injure his opponents. He's a [bleep] and am hoping he'll get a taste of his own medicine and be done.
    I like big hits as much as the next person, but head hunting and cheap shots have no place.. even Datsyuk is tough enough to go toe to toe with the likes of Malone and Roberts, and he's a little guy in comparison.
  8. Lexus P
    8. Posted by Lexus P Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:50 pm EDT

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    Thanks for the video. As another said im all in for big hits, and Scott Stevens is one of my favourite players ever, but when I watching this slowmotion video I notice the follow through with the elbow, and the hit was clearly a hit to the head, the puck wasnt even near them. Pronger has always been a goon (I believe he is the most suspended player in the league atm?) The league should certainly do something about it, but i guess Pronger gets a free pass as usual.
  9. Scioto Slim
    9. Posted by Scioto Slim Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    forget firing pronger into the sun how bout that scumbag foote. F that guy
  10. jkrdevil
    10. Posted by jkrdevil Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:36 pm EDT

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    "and details a crazy KHL game Ovie attended that was cut short after military flares were set off in the arena."
    When did the Flyers join the KHL?
  11. GEO/Avslova
    11. Posted by GEO/Avslova Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    Not just that, but he has a goal, an assist, and was on the ice for Buffalo's goal.
    He did all of this in just 5:41 of ice time. Imagine what he could do if he was being given the minutes he should be getting.
  12. redhotsnowman
    12. Posted by redhotsnowman Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:22 pm EDT

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    I watched that game last night and I am usually a big fan of the Red Wings' talent. But I'd never seen a bigger bunch of DIVERS before. I lost a lot of respect for them. Looks to me like Pronger was just trying to sneak through there, no mal intent.
  13. The Great One
    13. Posted by The Great One Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    The Flyers joined the KHL when Obama gave Philly to Russia as an olive branch...in return for more money for welfare.
  14. armut$zeugni$
    14. Posted by armut$zeugni$ Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    as i ducks fan, i'm clearly biased, but i've always been very critical of pronger and defended the suspensions he had been given. this situation is not that noteworthy, to me. it sure should have been two minutes because it seems to be a late hit, but that's not an elbow and it's obvious. the elbow comes up afterwards. yes, it still was a hit to the head and as i said earlier, i would prefer the league to introduce a rule to make those hits to the head illegal. they are not as of now. so i can't really tell what he should be suspended for.
    but it's a great opportunity to find out who actually cares for the game and its rules and who's just a pathetic opportunist, talking about players just needing "to keep their heads up" but wanting pronger's head rolling for this thing.
  15. gondlyr
    15. Posted by gondlyr Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    Datsyuk ran into the back of Pronger. How is that a penalty? The Refs didn't call one because there wasn't one. Pronger is big, of course little guys like Datsyuk bounce off of him. Detroit would of retalitated if they thought anything of it.
    How about showing video of the Detroit hit to Perry's head in front of the bench? That did get a penalty on Detroit.
    How about showing Detroit boarding Perry later in the game? That got called too.
    It was a great game played hard by both teams. Way more exciting to watch than a Pittsburgh game. I hope someone comes out of the east this year and gives the west a challenge in the Stanley Cup Finals. Otherwise the best series in the playoffs will be the Western Conference Finals.
  16. DerekW
    16. Posted by DerekW Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    What's funny is that I didn't see Pronger actually hit Datsyuk in the video. It does look like Pronger extends his elbow in an attempt to hit Datsyuk, but Datsyuk just plain and simple skated right into Pronger's shoulder then Pronger extended his elbow. I don't think the elbow got much of Datsyuk here, but that's besides the point.
    As for those that are saying the puck wasn't near him, well that's true, but he just dumped the puck a quarter second before then. At that point he's eligible to be hit. It's not like Datsyuk took 2 or 3 strides and then was hit.
  17. RickB
    17. Posted by RickB Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    Two points:
    1. Pronger should have died when he collapsed on the ice in Detroit a few years ago; wasn't it after taking a puck to the chest? I wish someone would do it again. There is definitely intent - you can see his elbow follow-through.
    2. The Red Wings aren't diving; they have the smallest team in the NHL, and these guys just get knocked down a lot by bigger players. It looks bad, but I don't see them get more calls because of it.
  18. onmyown
    18. Posted by onmyown Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    Those are some delicious looking cheerleaders.
    In regards to the Pronger hit on Dats.
    When playing against Pronger or anyone, a player should be aware of who's on the ice and that Pronger is well known for that type of play as is Derian Hatcher.
    But I am not outruling a suspension here cause Pronger(repeat performer) and others like him should be using their body and going for the body to knock a puck free and not using your head or someone else's to make or stop a play.
  19. Rumpelstilzchen
    19. Posted by Rumpelstilzchen Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    We have another Stamkos goal! It turns out that 10 games does not a career make (unless you suck).
  20. Earl Sleek
    20. Posted by Earl Sleek Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    To call any more Pronger-elbow conversations a "debate" is laughable. It's just people who've already decided his guilt making noise at each other.
  21. hockeytown blood
    21. Posted by hockeytown blood Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    bahaha my head-2-head opponent has Stamkos but benched him tonight. wah-wah.
  22. michblk
    22. Posted by michblk Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    All Pronger had to do is move over another six inches and it probably would have been a great hit. Instead he goes for the head.
  23. RedWingFan
    23. Posted by RedWingFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Somebody needs to rip Pronger's knees . . .
    Get that dirty SOB out of hockey!
  24. RandomClown
    24. Posted by RandomClown Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    @ Wysh
    - Take a look at that Dad with his son in that picture sitting to the left, they have the matching jersies on.....The kid looks like he has no idea what is going on next to him and the Dad is getting himself quite an eyeful probably thinking how many beers, like the one in his hand, it will take for that chick to be interested....
    Classic Stuff
  25. 4th and long
    25. Posted by 4th and long Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    The ducks are all goons. Pronger should be out of the league and the OT goal was a highstick

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