Double Standard?

1) That's what some folks are asking after two games between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. In each game a Penguin has committed a foul that, if done at another time, or by another player, would have likely resulted in a suspension of some length. Here are the two incidents, and you can decide if the decision would be different if different players were involved.

2) The first was at the end of game 1. As the Red Wings were skating towards Chris Osgood immediately following the conclusion Sidney Crosby jabbed Wing forward Kirk Maltby's foot. Right from Crosby's mouth:" He was doing what he always does. You know, he was giving guys lip service and things like that,'' Crosby said. "I two-handed him on top of the foot there as we were skating by. So he felt like it was necessary to keep talking after the game, and I thought I'd whack him. We suppose he felt comfortable enough to accurately relay his actions because he wouldn't get any league response? The result of the play? Nothing. Silence. We can't reprint the note that long time Fauxrumor reader "Vladtheimpaler" wrote to us that evening. Suffice to say he was irate that not even a symbolic penalty was called. He went on to say "it wasn't unlike what Sean Avery would do", like for instance what he did to Tim Thomas a couple of months ago. Interesting. Let's say that Sean had given Crosby (or any star player) a 2 handed slash AFTER a game, anyone think it would have gone unpunished? You decide.

3) The next instance is even more blatant in our opinion. Late in Game 2, during a scrum in front of Osgood Evgeny Malkin went after Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/2009-stanley-cup-finals-game-2-detroit-red-wings-vs-pittsburgh-penguins-zetterberg-malkin-fight/946916573 It wasn't the most memorable bout we've ever witnessed. In fact Malkin's fighting skills (this was his first in the NHL) looked eerily similar to his countrymen, the Capitals Alex Semin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_ydsUCzi2E who looked silly in his first NHL scrap. LOL

4) The issue is of course that rule (that we HATE!) that any player assessed an 'instigator' penalty in the final 5 minutes of a game gets an automatic 1 game suspension. OK, so in this case its clear cut, right? Malkin got the instigator here. It was clearly less than 5 mins left. Zetterberg was the bane of Crosby's existence in the first two games (like last year), so it made sense that Malkin would give him the business. So what did the NHL decide? No suspension. Apparently Colin Campbell now says that the rule isn't iron clad as once thought. It is a 'discretionary decision on the part of the league. If the 'instigating' player isn't looking to 'send a message' then the suspension can be rescinded (Like here) Sorry Colin, that's double speak. (bullshit). Again using everyone's whipping boy Sean Avery. Anyone think Sean would have been allowed to skate (sorry) from a suspension if he had attacked Zetterberg in the waning minutes? No, in fact we'd put $$ on Campbell finding a way to give MORE than 1 game to Avery.

5) Don't misunderstand, We have NOTHING against Pittsburgh. If the skate were on the other foot, we'd attack the decision as vociferously. However, its another clear case where NHL justice (an oxymoron if there ever was one!) is NOT blind. Much like the Pronger cheap shots of past years when the super star defensemen was either given a slap on the wrist, or no slap at all for infractions that would have resulted in double digit suspensions to the Simons, Brashears, Averys, etc of the league. So yes, in our opinion its a Double Standard, indeed! What do you think?