Giroux suspended for Game 5
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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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Zubrus, who is a good 7" taller than Giroux, should learn to skate with his head up.— NYluvsPhylers- His name isn't Malkin...he will get suspended— Badhog
- Perhaps the fact Zubrus fell to the fetal position after a modest hit will be a factor?— PhiEagleII
- Let him get suspended so they can use it as another excuse...its a lot better excuse than saying the Devils want it more.— tralala
- WhatWhiners - I think Giroux's hit was similar to Neal's hit on Couturier. The puck had cleared, he aimed high (but didn't leave his feet like Neal).
Say now what you said then.— Vinny1925 - didn't even aim high, just came across hard - Zubrus's head got in the way. If he hit his body would have been fine - I do think Giroux took advantage of the situation hitting him in the head however. At least it was the front/side as oppose to the back — PapaDrom
- shittsburgh fans must be laughing at us... we re NEVER EVER GONNA WIN ANOTHER CUP !!!!!!!!— donhol12
- Zubrus' acting job should be suspension worthy. It's an abuse of Rule 48.— Phantoms9805
- C'mon, Flyers have two players worthy of the Academy award. Giroux is one, Briere is the other. — JD13
- he will sit out the nexr game-as he should— Old German
- The problem with comparing to Neal is that Neal should have gotten more than 1 game. If Neal was suspended for a min of 2 games (he did the same thing TWICE on one shift) and Giroux got 1 game, I wouldn't like it, but it would be fair. Shanny is so erratic who knows?— erbower
- Yes the problem is the inconsistent punishment. If Neal had gotten 2 games, Weber some form of suspension, Malkin a suspension let alone a review for leaving his feet to elbow Grossman and cause a concussion, Marty for bashing JVR in the back of the head while pinned down....then I'd have no problem with Giroux's suspension, it would be in line with the rest of these blatant infractions. But since the rest of these received little to no punishment or even consideration, I can't accept that Giroux deserves a suspension, just fine him if Shanny thinks it was over the line. These player safety decisions are shots in the dark. — ktl113
- Devils players have been running Flyers around the boards in the exact same way all series, have only been called on it once. No suspension is deserved. It was a late hit, it deserved a penalty, but nothing more. What was galling about it was the number of times in this game and series that Devils have gotten away with the same move, and given Giroux's demonstrative reaction to 2 non-calls moments before, I think he was trying to send a message to the league and refs.— Pelti
- You got it, man. 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
- don't know why fans prefer beating Penguins and losing to Devils.. some of us old-timers still detest Devils for Stevens hit on Lindros and them winning 3 Cups with no fans.... woulda preferred Penguins knock out Devils and Rangers if the Flyers wer going to go 1 and done like Phillies— warbiscuit
