Giroux suspended for Game 5
Daily News Flyers blog
Giroux suspended for Game 5
If the Flyers are going to avoid elimination on Tuesday night in Game 5 against New Jersey, they are going to have to do it without their top point producer and leader.
The NHL has decided to suspend Flyers forward Claude Giroux for one game as a result of his high hit on New Jersey’s Dainius Zubrus late in the second period on Sunday night.
“Claude Giroux delivered an illegal check to the head,” NHL vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan said in a video explanation (embedded below). “After pulling even with Zubrus on the backcheck, Giroux chops down Zubrus’ stick. Well after the puck has been chipped into the corner, Giroux comes across Zubrus’ body with his shoulder, making principal point of contact with Zubrus’ head.”
Shanahan used the term “reckless” to describe Giroux’s choice of contact.
“We feel this reckless picking of the head rises to the level of supplemental discipline,” Shanahan said. “We have taken into consideration that though he was shaken up, Zubrus returned to the game and finished it.”
This is Giroux’s first suspension or fine in his four-year NHL career.
Shanahan pointed out that Giroux displayed frustration – by turning his back to the play to continue complaining to an official about a missed call – which added to the intent factor.
Giroux issued a statement through the Flyers’ public relations staff that says he “respects” Shanahan’s decision and “wants to move on.” Giroux said he had a 15 to 20 minute hearing with Shanahan over the phone on Monday morning.
He was originally given a two-minute minor for head contact on Sunday night.
"I'm not a dirty player," Giroux told reporters on Sunday. "I don't want to hit guys on the head. I was just trying to finish my hit there."
Then, later, when asked specifically about a review by dean of discipline Brendan Shanahan, Giroux said, "I think I should be fine. He was leaning in. At the same time, [the Devils' Anton] Volchenkov also hit [the Flyers' Wayne] Simmonds in the face with an elbow. They can look at that one, too."
For his part, Zubrus declined to comment on whether it was a dirty hit.
"I'm not going to comment on whether it was dirty or not," Zubrus said. "It's playoffs. They try to hit us, we try to hit them. There's plenty of hits that I guess you can say are questionable, or whatever. I think he got a penalty. I think it was deserved. That's about it."
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Since Giroux is not a dirty player and Zubrus leaned DOWN, a penalty and fine is all that is called for -- especially since the NHL takes into account how badly a player is hurt (which makes no sense).— VicM- This comment has been deleted. — stonewall jackson
Comment removed.- RIIIIIIIGHT!!!! Giroux's shot was an intentional head shot, and was a dirty hit. I guess it's just another conspiracy against a Philly team huh? — JD13
- Giroux was hit similar to the Neal hit on Giroux in the Penguin series, so opinions should be easy. Say now what you said then.— WhatWhiners
- not even close to similiar — PapaDrom
- This lone Penguin fan is still monitoring our site. Wow! Don't you have any other sports out there?
- Glad to repeat our earlier comments. The Pengoons are the dirtiest team in the history of the NHL.
Matt Cooke cheapshots Marc Savard, ending his career:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-I5m4f0ZXA
Brooks Orpik hits Erik Cole in the back, breaking his neck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRMz6A6r5fs
Arron Asham hits Brayden Schenn in the face with his stick, then punches him while he's down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED0m5h8MVME
James Neal hit on Giroux was not even close to Claude's hit on Zubrus. Watch the Pengoon cheapshot two Flyers on the same shift:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAFjvfA8zqk
- "dirtiest team in the history of the NHL? Are you smoking crack? And you see what you want to see. Schenn was hit in the chest, NOT the face. — JD13
- As a Pens fan living in DE, I love how the Pens' dirty play in Game 3 makes them 'the dirtiest team ever.' I watch 82 Pens games a year (thank you, DirecTV), and, while I will be the first to admit that Game 3 was NOT our finest hour...we don't play that way every game. Philly fans only know THEIR team. They have no IDEA what's going on in the rest of the league. Do you know how many times a year I hear, "I only follow the Flyers if they're in the playoffs." — Lightstorm
- I completely agree with you on two points...
1) Head contact 2) no injury
It's the third point that differentiates the two incidents...
3) history of the player...
James Neal...Fined once, Suspended once (2 games) and warned twice for illegal hits
Claude...nothing
Neal got a game...Claude should have gotten a warning and a fine.— TheLlama - Right on, bro. Check out this vid showing Shea Weber punch Henrik Zetterberg in the head, then smash his head into the glass without being suspended:
http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/4/12/2943875/shea-weber-fine-suspension-henrik-zetterberg-nashville-predators - One thing is for sure, Sidney Crosby would never "whine" mid-play like Fraud Girwho? did. What a crybaby. "Someone finished a hit on me call a penalty!" Then instead of skating 60 feet to make a legal hit on Zubrus he waits til Zubrus has dumped the puck, skates an additional two fee cuts in front and puts his shoulder into Zubrus' chin. — theeutmost
- You're lame. Easy to see the level the Flyers get under your skin... Giroux was yelling at the ref because Broduer played the puck outside the trapezoid, assuming you know what that is. There should have been a penalty call on Broduer and none of that would have happened... I think Zubrus leaned down even further at the point he was hit. A head shot for sure but Shanahan said his head didn't move at all before contact. I'm biased, but I think that argument could be made for Giroux. The fact Zubrus came back to play the whole game and seal the win is more than enough punishment.
- That's an even poorer excuse from a "leader" to take a stupid penalty, let alone get suspended. Non-calls happen in EVERY game for BOTH teams, you keep skating, you don't stop in the middle of the play, turn and whine to the referee, and then skate away like a little b***h pouting and taking a head shot because you didn't get your way. Face it. Flyers thought they would have smooth sailing after beating Pittsburgh and they're frustrated, and after tonite, eliminated. Suck it up...It's hockey. — JD13
