Sucker punch on Spacek

[Bazan110584 0]

Who saw the cheap shot that Scott Nichol threw at Jaroslav Spacek? For those who didn't see the game, Nichol was p***ed because he fell into the net (with a little love check from Spacek), but then he comes up behind him and swings a haymaker into Spacek's face. Spacek had NO clue it was coming. He went down, Nichol started pounding him, then Marty Biron immediately stepped in hitting Nichol. Spacek was down for a few minutes.

He'll probably get suspended, but for how long do you think? Personally, I say the league will come down heavy on him. This has no place in the NHL.

edit for rogue 'w' that appeared in the title. (Originally it was 'Thoughts?w') I looked at it and was like, 'I'm-m dumb.)

[Chadd 916]

Without actually seeing it, most of us really can't comment on it intelligently.

[Bazan110584 0]

Point. Well, until tomorrow, when it will probably make most sports shows, how about for those who saw it? (if anyone was watching the game...which was at least most all of Western New York)

[RadioGaGa 162]

Point. Well, until tomorrow, when it will probably make most sports shows, how about for those who saw it? (if anyone was watching the game...which was at least most all of Western New York)

Just saw it on TSN...didn't see the entire play that lead to it...looking at the scoresheet....at 15:21 of the 3rd, Spacek got an Interference call (which I assume is what pissed Nichol off.) Nichol got 2:00 for Instigating/10:00 Misconduct/10:00 Game Misconduct & 5:00 for fighting (although there is no matching fighting penalty on Buffalo). It was a very nasty looking shot...right in the jaw/said of the head, under the visor. Spacek did eventually leave the ice on his power power.

I'd say a suspension is pretty much guaranteed. 3-5 games? Hard to say for sure.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Probably the first "Major" incident since the Bertuzzi thing. Id bet they take a hard line on this, 10 games.

[KingPest19 0]

Who saw the cheap shot that Scott Nichol threw at Jaroslav Spacek? For those who didn't see the game, Nichol was p***ed because he fell into the net (with a little love check from Spacek), but then he comes up behind him and swings a haymaker into Spacek's face. Spacek had NO clue it was coming. He went down, Nichol started pounding him, then Marty Biron immediately stepped in hitting Nichol. Spacek was down for a few minutes.

He'll probably get suspended, but for how long do you think? Personally, I say the league will come down heavy on him. This has no place in the NHL.

edit for rogue 'w' that appeared in the title. (Originally it was 'Thoughts?w') I looked at it and was like, 'I'm-m dumb.)

Wouldnt really call that a love check he pretty much rode/checked him into the post. Understandably Nichol was pissed. Did he react the right way? No he didnt. He'll most likely get 5-7. Don't really see him getting more than Domi got on Ulf and that was 8. I hate how on other boards peopel are comparing this to the Bertuzzi incident and expecting the same type of suspension. If that happens I'm done watching the NHL.

[KC83 2]

the only way its similar to the bertuzzi thing is that it was a sucker punch

but there was no pre-game that lead up to this at all, what i'm saying it wasn't pre-meditated (sp?) ... it was a reaction by nichol. and it was a stupid reaction, I think he'll get something harsh because of the bertuzzi thing.

[kosydar 0]

I just watched the replay on TSN. Its bad, although it isn't close to Bert in any respect. He was obviously pissed that Spacek ran him into the goal (who could blame him?), and he just handled it poorly.

[KYHockey3 0]

i just saw that sucker punch on sports center. it was a hard punch to the face, i think it was a rediculous puch and he handled it well by not retaliating

[Kevbeau 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=261221027

About halfway through the highlights.

First off...I am a Sabres fan. I wouldn't say Spacek "guided" him into the post, but he did canopener him pretty good and didn't make any attempt to avoid the net. Also, Nichol was crashing the net, so his speed was obviously a factor. [spacek did get called for interference]

I don't blame Nichol for being pissed, he railed the post pretty good. But he basically grabbed the back of Spacek's yoke and drilled him right in the side of the jaw. Spacek appeared to be looking at the bench or the ref. Spacek goes down like a bag of bricks and Nichol continues to try throwing. Biron jumps on his back.

If I was Collin Campbell, I'd give Nichol 5-10 games without pay or a fine. He does have some past history with suspensions.Give Biron a game or two for hitting with the blocker. Yeah, he barely landed anything and he did the right thing to help his teammate, but he did use his blocker.

Am I being a homer on this?

[srv2miker 0]

Sucker punches have to be taken out of the game. I say if he didn't learn from Bertuzzi's mistake then punish him just as hard. It shouldn't be about the consequences that actions cause, it should be the action itself that gets punished. Just because Spacek didn't break his neck doesn't mean the punishment should be any lighter; punish Nichol hard and get it out of the game.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Sucker punches have to be taken out of the game. I say if he didn't learn from Bertuzzi's mistake then punish him just as hard. It shouldn't be about the consequences that actions cause, it should be the action itself that gets punished. Just because Spacek didn't break his neck doesn't mean the punishment should be any lighter; punish Nichol hard and get it out of the game.

Now does that theory work for Spacek running him head first into the post? Does he get an ample suspension that he would have if Nichol broke his neck on that play?

I say Nichol gets 5-6 games, Buffalo gets nothing.

Thoughts on the play: Stupid by Nichol and he had no right to do that. However, Spacek has to be a little smarter, knowing you just ran a guy full speed into a post, don't turn your back. Stay on him, keep an eye on where he is or get off the ice. Don't turn up ice and stand there. You know he'll be pissed and you're leaving yourself open for something like that. He shouldn't have gotten a sucker punch, but a retaliation was definately expected after that player.

Kevbeau - not bad for a Sabres fan, It's tough to be unbiased when things like this happen, but I think your scenario is fair.

[Fletch 219]

Here's another link to it -

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...eoID=1591962274

[Kevbeau 0]

9 Games per TSN.

[djinferno 2]

I just watched the replay on TSN. Its bad, although it isn't close to Bert in any respect. He was obviously pissed that Spacek ran him into the goal (who could blame him?), and he just handled it poorly.

what he said

[Nick23 0]

I can't see how anyone can compare that to Bertizzi's, Nichol reacted (and be honest) as most would, that was a spur of the moment reaction i'm sure he wasn't even thinking when he did that. Stupid, but, it was definately a bad hit on Spacek's part as the puck was not coming to Nichol.

Tbh, all three of them (inc the goalie) should get something, as all of their parts were very dangerous, but, it will probably end up with Nichol getting a big suspension, and the others getting off very lightly, you can tell already as they are titled, 'Nichols sucker punch', not 'Spacek dirty hit off the play' or Birons thrid man in with the blocker...

Or to simplify, they all made the wrong descision, all get a suspension, end of

[pwrfwd26 0]

9 gms not near enough! he needed @ least 15!

[Chadd 916]

Sucker punches have to be taken out of the game. I say if he didn't learn from Bertuzzi's mistake then punish him just as hard. It shouldn't be about the consequences that actions cause, it should be the action itself that gets punished. Just because Spacek didn't break his neck doesn't mean the punishment should be any lighter; punish Nichol hard and get it out of the game.

While I agree with you on the sucker punches, and the similarity of Nichol's actual actions, there was no buildup or prior threats in this case. I believe the suspension should have been longer but 9 games is very severe considering how lightly Colin Campbell usually suspends players.

[Miike 1]

Just watched the video from Myspace, and is it just me or after he sucker punched him, he whipped he back on to the ice?

Of course Nichol deserves a suspension for what he did, why 9 games? Why not even it off and give 10? I wonder how they come up with stuff. I think if Spacek was to get anything, it would of been a minor penalty or double minor maybe on the actual play, no suspension. Only suspension other then Nichol that should happen is Marty Biron using the blocker.

[LkptTiger 1]

Anyone else see a bit of a slew-foot? Jaroslav is lucky Nichol didn't get hurt (which was definitely a possibility) or else we would be sitting here talking about how long he (Spacek) should be sitting.

Sketchy play, for sure. Did it warrant that kind of sucker punch? No; but I would think a little cross-check to the shoulder/facewash to be an appropriate response on Nichol's part.

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

Inside source says they are saying 9 to 15 as reported on TSN. Depends on if there are any lsting affects to the punch.

[Chadd 916]

Inside source says they are saying 9 to 15 as reported on TSN. Depends on if there are any lsting affects to the punch.

They should be punishing the act, not the result. If it "could be" 15, then it should be 15.

[kosydar 0]

I think 9 is too much. I'd give him 3-4.

[Eazy_b97 1]

They should be punishing the act, not the result. If it "could be" 15, then it should be 15.

I don't know if that's practical since so many plays could end up in suspensions. Even Spacek's hit could've ended Nichol's career.

[Chadd 916]

They should be punishing the act, not the result. If it "could be" 15, then it should be 15.

I don't know if that's practical since so many plays could end up in suspensions. Even Spacek's hit could've ended Nichol's career.

There is a difference between a play you see almost every game, like Spacek riding Nichols into the post, and a suckerpunch. Nichols didn't appear to try and stop in any way. The checks from behind and cheap shots should be punished a lot more harshly by the league, it would be better than letting some otherwise useless goon jump the ice and beat the hell out of someone.