Hawks Hockey Hoiden

Update: The NHL suspended Wisniewski for 8 games without pay. Yes! I hope this means that instead of adversely affecting all players when dirty hits happen, the NHL sees that they need only punish the offenders, and even more harshly repeat offenders like Wisniewski (and Ovechkin). Thank you NHL for getting it right!

When the Blackhawks traded James ‘Wiz’ Wisniewski last season, I was the first to balk about that.  How could the Blackhawks trade a valued and tough d-man like that?  Since then, the Hawks have been struggling with their ‘D’ no question about it.  But watching as Wiz and Brent Seabrook exchanged pleasantries before the first intermission in tonight’s Hawks/Ducks game and then watching Wisniewski gun for Brent Seabrook in the 2nd period and purposely leave his skates and take Seabs out by the head?!  Oh, them’s fightin’ words Wiz!  And are you kidding me with that “charging” call?  What?  No automatic ejection?  Not even boarding?

At least Duncan Keith rushed in to box Wisniewski’s ears after that dirty hit.  Similarly, Nick Boynton more than proved his worth in having a go at Wisniewski in the last minute of the game.  If only Boynton had gotten some good shots under Wiz’s visor!

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The very hard Kronwall hit on Martin Havlat (which did not appear to be a dirty hit, despite what some Hawks fans and Brian Campbell would like to believe) in game three of the Western Conference Finals match-up between the Blackhawks and the Red Wings would come to bear in game four.  Jonathan Toews, who would end up scoring the only goal for the Hawks in game four, said before the game that the Hawks weren’t out for revenge on Niklas Kronwall for his “dirty” hit on Havlat.  No, seemed the Hawks were looking to self-destruct instead, probably as a result of being psyched out by the Kronwall hit, though only the Hawks know for sure. (more…)