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[hckyplayer8]

The first post of this thread will be as follows (and about time NHL) <h1 property="dc:title">NHL players’ union approves new head shot ban</h1> By IRA PODELL, AP Hockey Writer Mar 25, 5:46 pm EDT

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NEW YORK (AP)—Blindside hits to the head are a thing of the past in the NHL.

The executive board of the players’ union voted Thursday to accept a new temporary rule that will ban hits to the head against unsuspecting players. The decision takes effect immediately, starting with the league’s 11 games Thursday night.

“We believe this is the right thing to do for the game and for the safety of our players,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “The elimination of these types of hits should significantly reduce the number of injuries, including concussions, without adversely affecting the level of physicality in the game.”

Panthers forward David Booth is wheeled off the ice after being injured on Oct. 24, 2009.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum) The rule prohibits “lateral, back-pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact.” The league will have the power to review such hits and apply further discipline.

The union’s representatives on the competition committee signed off on the ban Wednesday. It was then left to the union’s board to accept or reject the recommendation.

The rule is in effect through this year’s playoffs. The competition committee is expected to meet during the summer to create a permanent rule that will also include an on-ice penalty instead of solely punishment after the fact.

“We are encouraged by the league’s recent willingness to explore on-ice rule changes as a means of reducing player injuries and have no doubt that by working together, a safer working environment can be established for all NHLPA members,” the union said in a statement.

After Wednesday’s recommendation by the players’ association members on the competition committee to accept the ban, the union said its executive board would vote within two days. It acted swiftly Thursday to agree to the new rule.

The NHL board of governors unanimously approved the proposed penalty Tuesday. The league’s general managers first proposed it this month.

Florida forward David Booth(notes) missed 45 games this season after getting hit by Philadelphia captain Mike Richards(notes)—a play that was legal at the time, but will no longer be tolerated under the new system.

An unpunished blindside hit by Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke(notes) against Boston’s Marc Savard(notes) on March 7 also increased pressure to enact a new rule. Savard sustained a concussion that will likely sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season.

The GM meetings began the day after Savard was hit.

[Papa_Bear]

GO BLACKHAWKS!!!!!

[dmc76]

The first post of this thread will be as follows (and about time NHL) <h1 property="dc:title">NHL players’ union approves new head shot ban</h1> By IRA PODELL, AP Hockey Writer Mar 25, 5:46 pm EDT

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NEW YORK (AP)—Blindside hits to the head are a thing of the past in the NHL.

The executive board of the players’ union voted Thursday to accept a new temporary rule that will ban hits to the head against unsuspecting players. The decision takes effect immediately, starting with the league’s 11 games Thursday night.

“We believe this is the right thing to do for the game and for the safety of our players,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “The elimination of these types of hits should significantly reduce the number of injuries, including concussions, without adversely affecting the level of physicality in the game.”

Panthers forward David Booth is wheeled off the ice after being injured on Oct. 24, 2009.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum) The rule prohibits “lateral, back-pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact.” The league will have the power to review such hits and apply further discipline.

The union’s representatives on the competition committee signed off on the ban Wednesday. It was then left to the union’s board to accept or reject the recommendation.

The rule is in effect through this year’s playoffs. The competition committee is expected to meet during the summer to create a permanent rule that will also include an on-ice penalty instead of solely punishment after the fact.

“We are encouraged by the league’s recent willingness to explore on-ice rule changes as a means of reducing player injuries and have no doubt that by working together, a safer working environment can be established for all NHLPA members,” the union said in a statement.

After Wednesday’s recommendation by the players’ association members on the competition committee to accept the ban, the union said its executive board would vote within two days. It acted swiftly Thursday to agree to the new rule.

The NHL board of governors unanimously approved the proposed penalty Tuesday. The league’s general managers first proposed it this month.

Florida forward David Booth(notes) missed 45 games this season after getting hit by Philadelphia captain Mike Richards(notes)—a play that was legal at the time, but will no longer be tolerated under the new system.

An unpunished blindside hit by Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke(notes) against Boston’s Marc Savard(notes) on March 7 also increased pressure to enact a new rule. Savard sustained a concussion that will likely sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season.

The GM meetings began the day after Savard was hit.

If there were more fighting in the NHL like it was in the 80's and 90's less of this stuff happens.

Thanks Bettman you are truly the worst commish in all of sports



GO WINGS!

[hckyplayer8]

If there were more fighting in the NHL like it was in the 80's and 90's less of this stuff happens.

Thanks Bettman you are truly the worst commish in all of sports



GO WINGS!

Agreed whole heartedly. The players know they can get away with this *bleep* without being physically destroyed. All they will get is suspended and some money taken away from their multi million dollar contract. Boo-hoo.

[ArmonkStorm]

Flyers are starting the rookie goalie today... oh boy

edit: Flyers just scored

[hckyplayer8]

So...Crosby can score a goal while in the friggen net (playoffs last year) but if Fluery gets knocked down while OUT of the crease the goal is disallowed?

Go team Bettman!

[ArmonkStorm]

So...Crosby can score a goal while in the friggen net (playoffs last year) but if Fluery gets knocked down while OUT of the crease the goal is disallowed?

Go team Bettman!

That new goalie just got injured... unbelievable, just unbelievable. Thats our 4TH STRING GOALIE!!!

I think the flyers are cursed

[hckyplayer8]

LOL

Crosby hits Hartnell, Hartnell falls on Crosby and that equals a Hartnell pentaly.

[ArmonkStorm]

LOL

Crosby hits Hartnell, Hartnell falls on Crosby and that equals a Hartnell pentaly.

Naturally

I turned the game off once they put boucher in

[dmc76]

Power Rankings
Current Team Previous

1 Red Wings · Trends 6
Detroit has gone 8-0-1 in the past nine and has allowed only 14 goals.

2 Capitals · Trends 1
Another 100-point season for Ovechkin and a first conference crown for the franchise offer no real clues about how far this team can go.

3 Sharks · Trends 9
Maybe they've shaken off the post-Olympic blues. San Jose finished the week with four wins in a row, allowing just 6 goals in the process.

4 Coyotes · Trends 2
Trade-deadline pickups Lee Stempniak and Wojtek Wolski have combined for 17 goals and 27 points in a dozen games for the Coyotes.

5 Sabres · Trends 4
The Sabres have a good shot at the second seed after locking up their first playoff spot since 2007 with five wins in six games.

6 Canucks · Trends 3
There are concerns in Canuck-land about Roberto Luongo, who has allowed at least three goals in 11 of his past 17 games.

7 Predators · Trends 7
Gotta get 'em early because the Predators don't lose many leads. Nashville is 23-1 with first-period leads and 25-4 when ahead after two.

8 Devils · Trends 10
Same old, same old for the Devils. Brodeur passes the 40-win mark again and the team makes the playoffs for the 13th season in a row.

9 Penguins · Trends 11
Both special teams have been strong lately and the Pens are proving how important a top seed will be to them with a 5-0-1 home record in March.

10 Blackhawks · Trends 5
They clinched a playoff spot before anyone out West and since then, have had a relatively easy schedule. Chicago seems to be taking it that way too.

11 Senators · Trends 21
Maybe they'll get lucky and get Buffalo in the playoffs. Meanwhile Alex Kovalev has gone pointless in Ottawa's 12 games since the Olympic break.

12 Canadiens · Trends 8
Skidding at the wrong time. The Habs are starting to run out of games and time to sew up a playoff spot.

13 Bruins · Trends 16
A few good omens for the Bruins of late with the power play finally waking up and Tim Thomas and David Krejci looking like they did last season.

14 Flyers · Trends 15
March madness for the Flyers. They had only 10 days off among the 17 games they played, lost two starting goalies and their top scorer, but went 6-7-2.

15 Kings · Trends 12
The Kings are playoff bound, just not necessarily playoff ready. Los Angeles has lost three in a row and five of seven.

16 Avalanche · Trends 13
Penalty killing is hurting the slumping Avs lately. They've given up short-handed goals in seven straight games and 11 times in the past 24 tries.

17 Flames · Trends 14
Not extinguished just yet, but the Flames have to basically run the table and get some help.

18 Blues · Trends 19
St. Louis has won 11 of its past 15, and five of the past seven at home, but the Blues have to make up eight points in seven games.

19 Thrashers · Trends 17
Niclas Bergfors has been quietly doing a nice job since coming in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade. He has eight goals and 14 points in 20 games.

20 Rangers · Trends 23
Losing Sean Avery is a tough break for a team that is barely staying alive in the East playoff race.

21 Hurricanes · Trends 20
Cam Ward is getting back earlier than expected for the 'Canes, who handled themselves well without the injured goalie, going 12-4-2.

22 Maple Leafs · Trends 24
A strong finish for the Leafs and goalie Jonas Gustavsson, who has won seven consecutive starts, posting a 1.93 goals against average and a .929 save percentage.

23 Ducks · Trends 18
The Ducks aren't officially done yet, but they aren't doing much to disguise a thought process that is already focused on next year.

24 Wild · Trends 22
Neither of the top two goalies is really healthy these days for the Wild, who should be eliminated from playoff contention this week.

25 Stars · Trends 25
Mediocrity in Dallas has overshadowed what may be the league's best turnaround season by Brad Richards.

26 Panthers · Trends 26
Lots of reasons the Panthers are about to make it a decade without a playoff appearance, but the special teams have to be near the top of the list.

27 Lightning · Trends 27
Has the countdown begun by the new owner on coach Rick Tocchet and GM Brian Lawton?

28 Islanders · Trends 28
Visiting the Jackets was a cure for what ailed this team on the road for months. The Isles' win in Columbus was only their second in 13 games.

29 Blue Jackets · Trends 29
Back-to-back wins over division-rival Chicago. Why not? The Jackets were actually leading the Central standings more than a month into the season.

30 Oilers · Trends 30
Winning seven of past 10 home games is a nice thank you to fans for 194 consecutive sellouts, especially since a shot at winning the draft lottery is still there.

[chschargers09]

Go wings! now 6th in the western conf.

[ArmonkStorm]

Im just hoping we can make the playoffs at this point


Carter is badly missed

[longislandwx]

Im just hoping we can make the playoffs at this point
Carter is badly missed

You guys should make it... I would bet money on it!

Also dont forget you guys are versing the Islanders tomorrow and that's like an auto win! Islanders have not beet them in like what two seasons?

[hckyplayer8]

You guys should make it... I would bet money on it!

Also dont forget you guys are versing the Islanders tomorrow and that's like an auto win! Islanders have not beet them in like what two seasons?

You were saying?

The Flyers give me a headache.

[chschargers09]

Wings

[hckyplayer8]

Flyers
Habs

Pretty much do or die for both teams tonight.

[Beck]

Go Kings

[ArmonkStorm]

Flyers
Habs

Pretty much do or die for both teams tonight.

not off to a good start..


Notice the 7th backup goalie sitting on the bench. Like I said before, this team has got to be cursed

[longislandwx]

not off to a good start..
Notice the 7th backup goalie sitting on the bench. Like I said before, this team has got to be cursed

Just like the Mets...

[ArmonkStorm]

Just like the Mets...

Yeah