Yes, I’m a New York Rangers fans. But I’m also a hockey fan. The 2011-2012 Playoffs seem to be all about grit and glory.
As of yesterday, 4 players had been suspended, 724 penalty minutes assessed (including 158 in one game – PHI vs. PIT on Sunday). There have also been 11 game misconduct penalties in the first 5 days. In the 2010-2011 postseason, there were 6 total. And I can’t remember the last time I heard of a suspension for “continuing to inflict punishment upon an opponent who was an unwilling combatant.” *
I enjoy the hard play, but not the extreme. And I think the NHL is doing the right thing by trying to be on top of it. The media pundits will continue to debate on consistency and such, and I’m happy to let them. For me, it’s been one of the more entertaining postseasons and it’s certainly garnering the attention of non-hockey fans.
Nothing wrong about that.