Neal banned 1 game; Asham gets 4
Daily News Flyers blog
Neal banned 1 game; Asham gets 4
James Neal wrapped up two separate disciplinary hearings with NHL vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan before even stepping on the ice on Tuesday morning for the Penguins’ practice in Pittsburgh.
It took Shanahan nearly 12 full hours to make a decision as to Neal’s fate.
Turns out, the Penguins will be missing a 40-goal scorer in Neal when the take the ice on Wednesday night, already tilting the ice for an attempt to save their season in Game 4 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Neal received a one-game suspension from Shanahan for two separate attacks on Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier in the third period with the game already well out-of-hand.
Arron Asham, Neal’s teammate and now fellow inmate, will miss the remainder of the series – no matter how long it continues – thanks to a four-game ban for his cross-check on Brayden Schenn in the first period of Sunday’s Game 3 slugfest.
Neal’s hits – in which he left the ice both times to make contact with Giroux and Couturier – were just 42 seconds apart on the same shift.
“While we are willing to accept Neal’s assertion that on (Couturier) play he jumped to brace himself for an unintended collision … he once again launches prior to making contact with Giroux,” Shanahan said in an explanation video released by the league. “It is also important to note that Neal was fined once and also received two warning calls from the Department of Player Safety earlier this season, in addition to having been suspended three years ago for a check from behind.”
Asham required a more serious, in-person meeting with Shanahan for his cross-check to Brayden Schenn’s head in the first period. His penalty was expected.
“Reacting to his teammate being hit, Asham skates directly at Schenn toward the middle of the ice, and intentionally cross-checks him high and with force,” Shanahan explained. “When Schenn falls to the ice, Asham then punches the defenseless player in the back of the head.
“Despite how it appears in certain camera angles, Asham’s stick never makes contact with Schenn’s face. However, the violent, vengeful nature of the high cross-check is not acceptable.
“We’ve taken into consideration that Schenn escaped physical injury. We’ve also taken into consideration that Asham has never been fined or suspended in his 13-year NHL career.”
Pittsburgh will already be without forward Craig Adams for Game 4. Adams received an automatic suspension, as per league rules, for his instigator penalty within the final five minutes of regulation on Sunday.
Roxborough native Eric Tangradi, 23, is expected to replace Adams in the lineup, which would be his second career NHL playoff game. Joe Vitale, the player who tried to decapitate Danny Briere with a clean hit on April 1, and Dustin Jeffrey could replace Asham and Neal.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
While Asham's check and hit was terrible, you can at least partially understand his reaction as an attempt to stand up for his team mate who was just decked. He doesn't have the advantage of seeing Schenn's hit from all the camera angles we did, and was reacting to a really hard hit.
In Neal's case, he initiated completely on his own two dirty hits on the most impactful players of the series. The fact that he didn't get at least 1 game for each hit (or more) is deplorable. While his hits were not as harsh as Asham's, his intent to injure was much worse and completely unprovoked. What a joke that he gets to play in game 5 if the Flyers can't wrap this up in 4.— econ07- In all fairness to the Penguins, half the team are on their menstrual cycle.— specterlaw
- During game 4 against the Penguins, I hope the crowd is restrained and subtle but RELENTLESS in how they respond to Crosby. I think they should just chant "meeee-ow, meeee-ow, meeee-ow" whenever he is on the ice, non-stop, the entire game. I bet it would cause him to come apart mentally even more than he did in game three. He's like the most talented little boy on the grade school playground pouting when he does not get his way in touch football.— John Green
- What Shanahan is saying is that "G" is worth a one game suspension because he's a star player. However, Couturier, being a rookie, isn't worth the suspension of a 40 goal scorer. Raffi Torres hit Marian Hossa tonight in almost the exact way that Nell hit Couturier. So, unless Shanahan is a total hypocrite, Torres shouldn't be suspended. Let's see what happens.— SkinnyJoey
- Shanahan's incompetence is having a negative effect on these playoffs. Someone is going to get seriously injured while this buffoon twiddles his thumbs and tries to make-nice with all the owners. But the players have a nose for weakness and are exploiting every indecisive moment and hesitation. Shanahan is not prepared for this job and is in so far over his head that he actually might be dangerous. Perhaps Hossa is his first victim.— holmesburgexpat
- This is ridiculous guys... the suspensions were both totally fair. I'm as big of a Flyers' fan as anyone else, but Neal didn't deserve more than 1 game... that's 1 playoff game, which is the equivalent of 5 reg season games. This guy is a 40 goal scorer, and is suspended for an elimination game. It is going to seriously hurt the Penguins to not have him for game 4..o he has pretty much been their best player this entire series so far. Quit whining and looking like total homers without an ounce of clarity. You guys all look like Coatesy.. which is to say, not exactly unbiased. Shanahan gave both guys an appropriate suspension, you should be applauding him rather than whining about it. I was afraid Neal wouldn't get suspended at all and Asham would only get 1 game.. the suspensions are fair. Enjoy the 3-0 series lead and stop being typical Philly fans who can't stop complaining to enjoy success.— morningstar
- Morningstar, you are whining about whining Flyers Fans. That's makes you a hypocrite. Second, we aren't the only fans in the league discontent and upset with Shanahan's decision making. Go ask Fans in Detriot. You go tell them to applaud Shanahan. Third, Philly Fans are passionate and one of the most knowledgable fans in the country. You're wrong to say that we are complaining and not enjoying our success. We have had 1 championship within the last 30 years. We are upset that these sissy, sore loser Penguins tried to take out Couturier and Giroux b/c they were beating and outplaying their star players, Malkin and Sindy Crosby. Luckily, they weren't hurt. But there were a good chance they could have been seriously injured, considering Giroux had a concussion this season. There goes our SC chances. Stop talking about how he is a 40 goal scorer. Who gives a bleep. He shouldn't have been acting like a 4th line scumbag then. You sir are in the minority, Flyers Fan or not. Neal deserves more than 1 game.
— PhileaglyersFan - No offense to little girls, but many of you folks sound like a bunch of whining little girls. I'm starting to get the impression that the only reason some of you come here is to whine. Grow a pair. The penalties are fine. Do you think any of the Flyers think the penalties should have been greater? I seriously doubt it. How many grown-ups post on this board anymore? A bunch of whining Pansies.— stonelamb
- So you don't take issue with a so-called disciplinarian selectively meting out punishments based on what a "star" player simply claims to have been doing, rather than what the video clearly shows him doing? — icarus
- Morningstar: I believe the Flyer's fans posts here are perfectly correct. No whining here. I think Flyer's fans are simply frustrated with Shanahan's biases and blatant inconsistency - not only as it concerns the Flyers but also several other teams as well. Shanahan is frankly doing a terrible job as disciplinarian. He is inconsistent, dishonest, and biased as he performs his duties. Asham's suspension is appropriate while Neal's is not. Shanahan essentially ignores the infraction by Neal upon Couturier and his explanation is comical. Watch the video and it is clear that Neal sees Couturier and in fact aims for him.
Further, Neal launches himself into the air to deliver maximal impact to Couterier and Giroux's heads, not to 'brace himself' for the impact as Shanahan claims. As a repeat offender, and also by committing both infractions within 42 seconds of each other, Neal's intent to injure is indefensible. If the roles were reversed and a Flyer committed these acts against 2 Penguins, the punishment would undoubtedly be much harsher. Finally, punishment for intent to injure should not be influenced by whether the victimized player does or does not escape serious injury.— OrangeFury - It is what it is and most are correct in that Shanahan’s inconsistent calls will cause more injury. The so-called stars will likely get away w murder w a slap on the wrist. Most important thing is to keep cool, play hard and win game 4! No need to deal w these cowards longer than is necessary and risk more dirty plays by them. Obviously, they can't beat us so they go after our stars. I'm happy to know that the whole world now knows what we've always known about that silly immature kid and his dirty team. I'm sure now the world realizes the "accidental" knee-on-knee v our boys, rangers and bruins in three straight games by these cowards maybe weren't so coincidental after all.— Cali7
- I'm actually surprised that Neal was suspended at all. Shanahan probably had to beg Bettman for permission to give Neal a 1 game suspension.— ralphy973
- — icarus--I would have had a problem with it if no suspensions had been meted out. But 4 for Asham sounds ~reasonable~. More than 1 for Neal would have been nice, but I'm biased. I think Shanahan has a difficult and imperfect job to execute. I still doubt any Flyers or mngmnt have a problem with the rulings.
— stonelamb - stonelamb,check on Youtube for Dave Brown's crosscheck on
Tomas Sandstrom back in 1987...Brown got 15 games for it, Asham's was a response to a big hit but a cheapshot nervertheless,anything between 8~12 games would of
been justify in my book...add the punch behind the head...
go see for yourself and see what you think.
Shanahan was giving heavier suspension at the beginning of the year and was reign in by the league,he his not the only guilty party here in my opinion.Difficult job for sure.— mean mean pride,mean mean pride. - It's time to suit up Jody Shelly, wrap some tinfoil around his knuckles, and send him after Crosby.— ralphy973
