Article: NHL Reduces Ryan Hartman's Suspension To 8 Games

[Thomas Williams]

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[mnfaninnc]

Detroit is on the last of a 3/4 after a long break. We get them again in a b2b situation. It looked like there was some chippiness in the 1st meeting. Does this continue?

There were, what I would characterize as, 2 bad calls in the 1st meeting. While Fleury did not freeze the goal that Larkin scored, to me, the goal horn sounded and the Wild quit playing. I also don't buy that the whistle wasn't being blown. This all happened before Larkin scored. While it is justice that the goal counted, by the rules, it looked like the play was dead beforehand and shouldn't have been allowed. 

The 2nd bad call, I thought, was the goalie interference challenge. It is very obvious that Fleury wanted the space the Red Wing was occupying and it was in the blue. While contact was minimal at best, getting in his way in that space is interference, and caused him not to get his angle right. 

There is no disputing that Detroit is an original 6 team. There is at worst a myth and at best favoritism that the NHL does not care about the Wild as a franchise. These are 2 examples of how the league will not take care of the Wild within the rules (and there are tons of examples of this). While the Wild ended up winning this game in OT, despite the best efforts of officials to help Detroit make the playoffs, I think the Wild need to start taking things into their own hands and create some vigilanty justice. 

This is more akin to the way Hartman thinks. I liked him trying to take matters into his own hands, but the method of pile driving Stutzle's head into the ice was crossing the line to the affect that you couldn't even see where the line was, it was that far over. I do believe the Wild need to stand up for themselves more, and let it be known that they will no longer be the leagues patsies when it comes to justice. No more waiting on the league to bail them out, just to see it never come. 

For those who may not know, when Faber was hit at the side of the net and Boldy came charging in to get elbowed by Copp, Copp has now been put on IR. Yet, it was a cheapshot at Boldy. I'd like to see us get a little tougher in the corners and finish checks on guys like Larkin, DeBrincat and Raymond, and make life, essentially, miserable for them tonight. It would be really nice to grab another win from Detroit as we have so far dismantled the East this season. 

On a side note, I'm also hoping for the Reverse Retros tonight as that jersey just seems to give us more flash. I'm still convinced that if we can finish the year at .500, our playoff invitation will be received and we can again try and conquer an opponent. I think it is best to do this starting on the road, so trying to get that elusive home ice advantage should not be an all out goal. 

I'm glad to see Hartman's suspension reduced as I thought 10 games was over the top considering other suspensions. Was it a 10 game crime? Probably. Were similar sentences less? Yes.

[Willy the poor boy]

Ya, once the horn sounds and the light goes on it should be dead. Fleury has no idea it's a live puck and he's the goalie for God sakes.

I'll add a 3'rd bad call and that's the call on Rossi. If they call that they HAVE to call embellishing...

[Willy the poor boy]

Hartzy's still my guy, he'll get back to scoring before the end of the season. 

[Willy the poor boy]

Bad news Ekker hurt in practice placed on IR and out for at least 4 games and from Russo "likely a lot longer".

Edited 4 hours ago by Willy the poor boy

[Up North Guy]

5 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

Bad news Ekker hurt in practice placed on IR and out for at least 4 games and from Russo "likely a lot longer".

Dammit

[M_Nels]

29 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

Ya, once the horn sounds and the light goes on it should be dead. Fleury has no idea it's a live puck and he's the goalie for God sakes.

I'll add a 3'rd bad call and that's the call on Rossi. If they call that they HAVE to call embellishing...

I've never seen Flower give up on a live play before. If that horn doesn't go he likely falls straight backward into the mummy pose.

Kaner DEFINATELY should've been called for embellishment, no doubt in my mind that was a dive but puck don't lie.

[Willy the poor boy]

Maybe they need to hire Mr. Cheetachu for the training 

[Willy the poor boy]

38 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

I've never seen Flower give up on a live play before. If that horn doesn't go he likely falls straight backward into the mummy pose.

Kaner DEFINATELY should've been called for embellishment, no doubt in my mind that was a dive but puck don't lie.

My thoughts exactly.

[Willy the poor boy]

From Joe Smith:

Ryan Hartman said it’s been “tough to watch” the past several weeks as he’s remained suspended. Maintains the roughing on Stutzle was accidental, trying to win a faceoff. Did say it was “bad decision that led to bad result.” Focus is on “being a good teammate” and winning games