Video: Chris Pronger's debatable last-second hit on Parise

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Chris Pronger of the Anaheim Ducks has eight suspensions (and as far as we know, zero NHL-mandated anger management therapy sessions) to his credit. Last night against the New Jersey Devils, Pronger once again had a questionable hit, this time on Zach Parise at the end of the game:

Yep, nothing like losing a game on the road, getting kabonged in the final millisecond and then trying to shake away the cobwebs as the home team skates around you to celebrate ...

The HF Boards and the Devils' fan board NJDevs.com are having their say on this, with some naturally calling for the Ducks' D-man to be suspended. We're not exactly the Chris Pronger booster club 'round these parts, but this looked as close to incidental contact as a Pronger elbow can get.

Even if the hit was borderline, the fact that nothing was called and that Parise bounced back up basically clinches the fact that no additional discipline will be handed out by the League to this repeat (times eight) offender.

Besides, the Ducks' disputed third goal completely stole the controversial spotlight after last night's game anyway. Take a gander; if the call isn't "goal" on the ice, there's no way replay confirms it.

Thanks to Puck Daddy reader Joe for the tip.

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1. Posted by Hans Gruber Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT
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Though I would love to see Pronger sidelined for awhile, it wasn't a dirty play, just more of an accidental collision.
2. Posted by Pienkos Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT
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Seems like more of a collision, but Pronger is a giant douche (or turd sandwich) so he probably meant to do it, lol.
3. Posted by mother pucker serif Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT
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Accidental collision? When you lean into a guy with your elbows up, that's hardly accidental. Pronger's a goon.
4. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT
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By this point in his career, Pronger has lost the right to the benefit of the doubt. Just double each successive suspension, starting with this one.
5. Posted by Ranger Fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT
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Wa Wa Wa! Go over and kick his butt! Pronger is cheap shot artist! If the Devils had any stones they would have clothes lined Selane on the way out!
6. Posted by face painter Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT
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Parise received another questionable hit earlier in that game, and he got right up from that one as well. He is one of the most stand up guys in the NHL, and his skill level keeps improving with his work ethic. He gives everything he can when he's on the ice regardless of what happens to him, and he never fishes for a call. What Pronger did wasn't really all that dirty but it was classless. If it was incidental contact why doesn't he give Parise a hand up instead of taunting defeat above him? I don't think Pronger should be suspended but it's too bad Mike Rupp won't get a chance to teach him some manners later on this season.
7. Posted by Tito "TD" O'Dell Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:36 pm EDT
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He won't get suspended - and he shouldn't be - but if there still exists a minor penalty for elbowing, he should have gotten 2 minutes.
8. Posted by Ch M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT
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While it definitely isn't a Domi-Niedermayer type of elbow, it isn't the type of thing you like to see in the final second of a game when the Ducks are shooting towards an empty net.
9. Posted by joe h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT
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Score!
I highly doubt he'll be suspended or that the league will even review the play. Anyone else, I'd say it's incidental, but it's Pronger. Just a really well disguised cheap shot.
Parise is a tough dude though... I remember last year when Backman knocked his teeth out in the Rangers/Devils series and he came right back.
10. Posted by N. Y. NIGHTMARE Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT
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this is only questionable if your a devils fan. his momentum was moving toward parise [and the puck] .. parise was the one lost on the play with his head down.. Keep Ya Head Up son especially if there are 6'5' 260 pound defensemen out there.
wysh just be glad Pronger didnt lay into him or parise might not have gettin up so fast.
11. Posted by Sobu Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:31 pm EDT
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It's close, but I can't say it was bad. I think the elbow contact has more to do with the 7 inch height difference and that Parise was bent and had his head down.
As much as I'd love to can Pronger, I can't. Damn you rationality!
12. Posted by Garth Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT
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Not dirty? Since when is an elbow to the head not dirty? BESIDES the fact that it takes place about a year after Parise touched the puck.
It may look like an accidental collision, but I've never seen anyone follow through with their elbow on an accidental collision.
Maybe that's the thing with Pronger. He's not dirty, he just has a reflex in which his elbow just does that involuntarily.
You know..like George Costanza...
13. Posted by Garth Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT
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And I'm sorry, but the "height difference" argument is complete BS. If a player is penalized for not being able to control his stick and accidentally high sticking someone (and then we're told that wherever your stick goes, it's your responsibility) then why doesn't a player have to take responsibility when elbow makes contact with head?
14. Posted by Earl Sleek Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT
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"to this repeat (times eight) offender."
Now now, Wysh. Only seven of those suspensions could be considered "repeat" offenses. :)
On the hit, whatever. I've found with Pronger people will see what they want to see -- I'll save my breath for actions that the league does take action on (you almost have to pick your battles with this team).
15. Posted by kevinjohnson122475 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT
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I know you have it out for Pronger but that was him coming off the bench. It didn't even look like he meant to hit him.
16. Posted by Garth the Hoser Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT
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Accidental? Are you people sniffing glue? Where's the puck, exactly? I mean, Where. Is. The. Puck? There's no need for contact at all, much less an elbow smash to the head.
17. Posted by joe h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT
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@ Nightmare
I'm a Rangers fan and I'd say it's questionable. He's got a track record, plus, I don't recall ever seeing an accidental collision where only your arm follows through on the dude's head, while your other arm balances you.
18. Posted by Sobu Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:31 pm EDT
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Plain Garth,
If you watch the video, Parise runs his head into Pronger's elbow. The hit was not doubt interference, but elbowing not so much so.
High sticking is not a good comparison as there are rarley any cases where the natural use of the stick comes anywhere near the head, but with some of the shorties and some of the gorillas out there, there are bound to be a ton of cases where the natural use/location of one's elbow will be within the range of someone's head.
19. Posted by mitchconnor Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:25 pm EDT
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Captain Elbows strikes again. And he's got no right to take his place in the human race.
Not for anything but Scott Stevens was the master of following through with his elbow. Why do you think he concussed everybody? His knockout hits on everyone were identical: Lead with the shoulder, follow through with the elbow. That made the elbow contact look almost incidental, but it gave the skull that extra bit of whiplash needed for a concussion. At least Stevens disguised it; Pronger just elbows people straight up, hence the suspensions.
I do not understand how the league decides on goals anymore. At least you could see the puck for a second on the Devils' third goal.
20. Posted by Fill Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT
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the elbows and biceps don't flex upwards when people bump into you. incidental my ass.
21. Posted by theone6643 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT
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Stevens doesn't hit with his elbow let's not compared Pronger to him.
22. Posted by JJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT
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You can say what you want about Scotty Stevens but you could count on one hand the number of elbowing penalties Stevens had in his entire career.
23. Posted by Sobu Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:31 pm EDT
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theone,
You could say Stevens hit just like he was one giant elbow.
24. Posted by Hamilton Tigers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT
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Is Pronger's wife OK with this hit, or does she want it to move somewhere warm?