Boston Bruins left wing Shawn Thornton will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety at a to-be-determined date for an incident with Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik on Saturday at TD Garden. Thornton was offered the opportunity for an in-person hearing as required by provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for any suspension that can exceed five games. With play stopped at 11:06, of the first period, Thornton confronted Orpik in a scrum, pulling him to the ice and throwing punches. Orpik remained injured on the ice as Penguins players immediately called for medical assistance before being removed from the ice on a stretcher. The Penguins announced after the game he would travel with the team back to Pittsburgh; he had been taken to a local hospital, where he was alert and conscious. Thornton was assessed a match penalty on the play; he appeared to pull Orpik down and punch him while he was on the ice. Orpik was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was alert and conscious, the Penguins announced. Orpik returned from the hospital and will travel with the team back to Pittsburgh, coach Dan Bylsma said after the game. Thornton will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety at a to-be-determined date, the League announced Saturday night. The Bruins said via Twitter he will not travel for a game Sunday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The following grounds are being considered for
supplemental discipline: rule 46.2, aggressor and rule 46.15, match
penalty. The horrendous attack on Orpik came about when Penguins
left wing James
Neal hit Bruins
left wing Brad
Marchand at 11:06 of the first period. Neal struck Marchand with
his knee when Marchand was down on the ice, and although Marchand
remained in the game, Neal was assessed a two-minute minor for
kneeing on the play and will have a phone hearing with the NHL
Department of Player Safety on Monday. The following grounds are
being considered for supplemental discipline: kneeing. However, the
Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to
the infraction upon review. Bruins forward Loui
Eriksson left the game after his first shift following a hit from
Orpik, while the Bruins on Thursday saw defenseman Johnny
Boychuk taken from the ice on a stretcher after a hit by Montreal
Canadiens forward Max
Pacioretty. Boychuk has a sprained back and is out up to a week.
The Pens now have a massive shortage of defenseman following a
succession of bad injuries themselves.
This was far from acceptable from Neal but
Thornton's behaviour was even worse, delivering a cheap shot to Orpik
who knew little about the on-coming punch. Thornton, who looks every
inch like a neanderthal behaved like one, and we can only hope he
receives a lengthy ban. If it was left to me he would never be
allowed to play hockey again, lets face it being a fourth liner
lacking in skill, other than the ability to break bones, he wouldn't
be a loss to the world of hockey. It is almost laughable reading his
post-game comments, giving the usual 'I'm sorry' message, that is in
the hope of a lighter punishment. If there was any justice he would
be banned for the remainder of this season, and the bruins deducted
points.
"Listen I feel awful. It wasn’t my
intention for that outcome. I know Brooksie. I’ve gotten to know
him over the last several years here. I skated with him in the summer
through the lockout. I texted him a couple times. I feel awful. It
definitely was not I wanted to see or anybody wanted to see."
"That’s always my job, I guess, to
defend my teammates. But I've prided myself for a long time to stay
within the lines. I said, it’s hard for me to talk about right now.
I can't say I'm sorry enough. And I'm sure I'll be criticized for
saying it, but it's true. I just, I hope he's doing all right. I
heard that he's conscious and talking. I'm happy to hear that."
"Obviously I made a mistake. I'm aware of
it. I've been told that I'll be having a hearing. And it's hard for
me to say much more than ... it was not my intention, I feel awful, I
felt sick all game, so …"
It is a shame really as I found this Bruins team
extremely likeable over the last few years but with disgraceful
actions like this, it sours my opinion on them. I don't agree with
James Neal's kneeing on Brad Marchand either, whatever punishment he
receives will be just, but at least Marchand was not seriously hurt,
being able to finish the remainder of the game, while Neal really is
not that type of player. Thornton behaves like an oath, much in the
same vein as Chris Neil and Zac Rinaldo. If the league don't act on
these types of players then you can only hope, someone gives them a
taste of their own medicine. Would Thornton continue to deliver cheap
shots if someone hospitalised him? As harsh as it sounds maybe he
would look at things differently then.
Boston
Bruins forward Chris
Kelly was placed on long-term injured reserve Sunday with a
fractured right fibula. He was injured in the second period of the
game against the Pittsburgh
Penguins on Saturday and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Kelly is one of several Bruins who will be out of the lineup when the
team takes on the Toronto
Maple Leafs on Sunday night at Air Canada Centre. Bruins general
manager Peter Chiarelli also announced that Adam
McQuaid (groin injury) was placed on IR. In addition to Kelly and
McQuaid, the team is without Johnny Boychuck (sprained back) and Loui
Eriksson (concussion). Shawn
Thornton is suspended. The date of Thornton's hearing has not
been set. The Bruins called up Ryan
Spooner and Matt
Fraser from Providence of the American Hockey League. Spooner and
Fraser will each be available for the game against the Maple Leafs.
The lights are on but nodody's home
Game Penalties in Full
1st Period
|
|
|---|---|
00:21
BOS |
Zdeno Chara Cross checking against
Chris Kunitz
|
05:44
BOS |
Shawn Thornton Roughing against
Brooks Orpik
|
07:19
BOS |
Milan Lucic Fighting (maj) against
Deryk Engelland
|
07:19
PIT |
Deryk Engelland Fighting (maj) against
Milan Lucic
|
11:06
PIT |
James Neal Kneeing against Brad
Marchand
|
11:06
BOS |
Shawn Thornton Match penalty against
Brooks Orpik
|
17:42
PIT |
Chris Conner Hi-sticking against
Kevan Miller
|
2nd Period
|
|
00:44
BOS |
Brad Marchand Hi stick - double minor
against Chris Kunitz
|
08:52
PIT |
Simon Despres Holding against David
Krejci
|
11:22
BOS |
Jarome Iginla Holding against Simon
Despres
|
11:52
PIT |
Chris Kunitz Slashing against
Daniel Paille
|
3rd Period
|
|
03:43
PIT |
Chris Kunitz Tripping against
Dougie Hamilton
|
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