As the game gets bigger and faster, the hits do too. I feel like I got the wind knocked out of my chest just watching these.
From 10 down to number one – the best hits of the 2011-2012 season:
Archive for the ‘General Ouchiness’ Category
The top 10 hits of the 2011-2012 season
Posted by Justin Bourne under General Ouchiness, Score Video on Apr 10, 2012
Andrew Cogliano’s closest shave yet comes courtesy of Mark Giordano’s skate
Posted by Chris Lund under General Ouchiness, Night in review, Score Video on Apr 07, 2012
Why so serious?
The issue of skates getting up has been garnering some attention of late. Obviously it’s one of those scary things that happens in hockey that leaves players pretty much defenseless. We can legislate high sticks and elbows staying down but pucks and skates are part of the happenstance of the game. If you can escape without injury, you’re a lucky duck.
Just ask Brandon Dubinsky.
In today’s Calgary-Anaheim game, former Calgary cannon-fodder (read: Edmonton Oiler) Andrew Cogliano had a scary moment when he was clipped in the face by Mark Giordano’s skate. There was controversy to this play as the Flames had a goal called back after the whistle went, but I have no problem with that. It’s part of the official’s job to ensure that players are safe and Flames fans who think it’s unfair that a goal was called back because a player sustained a facial injury need to suck it up. If it was a Clint Malarchuk or Bryan Berard situation that goal would seem even less important than it realistically was in the first place. That’s why whistles get blown.
Giordano was called for high sticking on the play. THAT is unfair and an argument for why penalties ought to be reviewable by replay. Speaking of which, here’s the video… Read the rest of this entry »
Sidney Crosby isn’t the luckiest guy in the world when it comes to head injuries
Posted by Chris Lund under General Ouchiness, Night in review, Score Video on Mar 29, 2012
"Should I poke him?" -Marty Reasoner
The title and photo above pretty much sum up the last two years for Sidney Crosby better than I can by giving an elongated explanation of how brutal it probably is to have your head get consistently bashed and split open. Sidney Crosby experiences this only on days that end in ‘y’ it seems.
Below is the latest installment of the Sidney Crosby head injury saga as he takes a puck squarely off the face courtesy of Dylan Reese. Ironically enough it’s too bad Reese didn’t get the puck up higher – then Crosby’s visor could have been put to some good use as opposed to the puck hitting Crosby in the nose (like it did) or in the mouth.
Shane Doan is probably getting suspended tomorrow
Posted by Chris Lund under General Ouchiness, Night in review, Score Video on Mar 20, 2012
Coming to a press box near you
It appears as though Shane Doan is getting tired of the gruelling late season NHL schedule because he’s playing like a guy who really wants some time off. It finally looks as though he’ll be able to kick his feet up and enjoy some quality NHL rink coffee very soon.
Doan picked up a penalty or two tonight when he laid a blatant elbow on the chin of Jamie Benn and proceeded to fight Brenden Morrow with a trip to the box in hand. Some of you will recall that just four days ago Doan was assessed a fine courtesy of one Brendan Shanahan for boarding Mark Giordano. Apparently the $2,500 fine wasn’t enough to sway Shane’s thoughts on hitting people as Jamie Benn’s face found out.
Take a look. Read the rest of this entry »
theScore Video: The art of blocking shots
Posted by Justin Bourne under General Ouchiness, Score Video on Mar 13, 2012
Blocking shots is one of the worst parts of playing hockey. Sure, it’s hugely beneficial to your team, but unless you get it flush in the shin pads, it’s going to hurt.
On top of that, it’s just a very difficult skill to master – even when I actually wanted to block a shot I wasn’t very good at it.
Below is a video compilation of blocked shots, interspersed with interviews with some of the NHL’s best shot blockers such as Josh Gorges, Andrew MacDonald, Travis Hamonic and Carl Gunnarsson (all those guys are top 20 in the NHL – Gorges is first). Nick Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Jim Slater, Tanner Glass and a few others weigh in as well.
There are a few great quotes in the mix - Lidstrom talks about going down on just one knee (you’re taught that in college because there are so many shifty defensemen. You don’t want to be over-committed if the shooter fakes), Jonas Gustavsson complains that Gunnarsson is messing up his save percentage, and James Reimer says “To do that, you gotta be courageous or crazy – I’m scared to get in front of it and I got all this gear.” ….We know your joking, James, but now may not be the time for that comment.
Enjoy these rational explanations from clearly crazy people. Here’s the art of shot blocking:
Zdeno Chara uses small people to break glass
Posted by Chris Lund under General Ouchiness, Night in review, Wow on Mar 10, 2012
Bang.
You may have heard of this Zdeno Chara fellow. He’s an all-world defenceman, he’s really big and makes people hurt. Marcus Johansson couldn’t be further from being Chara. For one thing he’s a forward, and he’s a finesse player who doesn’t make people hurt.
Today he got hurt – not injured, don’t worry – by Zdeno Chara.
Breaking a sheet of glass at a hockey rink in half is no easy feat. They’re pretty dense and are meant to flex with the impact. Even when you hit them with people or pucks they don’t break easily. The reason people catch these moments with cameras is because they are so unusual.
Watch Chara use Johansson to break a sheet of glass. Right. Down. The middle. Read the rest of this entry »
Erik Gudbranson isn’t messing around with his right fist and Zac Rinaldo learns the hard way
Posted by Chris Lund under General Ouchiness, Night in review, Score Video on Mar 08, 2012
"Oi, my head."
There have been some good, good scraps this season both in North America and abroad. Tonight wasn’t so much a good scrap as a rookie showing a big pest who called the shots.
Zac Rinaldo isn’t a very popular guy right now, after getting suspended once this season and fined twice in one weekend. He really bugs people. Erik Gudbranson on the other hand is beginning to assert himself more physically lately as I’m sure Blake Wheeler could tell you all about. He has no problem throwing his weight around.
Tonight they met and the Kingston Frontenacs alumnus won in a big way. Read the rest of this entry »
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