Sucker punch on Spacek

[Cavs019 708]

I don't see a slew foot anywhere........Aren't defensmen taught to prevent the winger driving to the net from getting his stick anywhere near the puck??? Spacek doesn't have a reputation for being a dirtbag and honestly it looks to me like Nichol just lost an edge on a play that is routine in every NHL game.

[KingPest19 0]

I don't see a slew foot anywhere........Aren't defensmen taught to prevent the winger driving to the net from getting his stick anywhere near the puck??? Spacek doesn't have a reputation for being a dirtbag and honestly it looks to me like Nichol just lost an edge on a play that is routine in every NHL game.

Dont know where the slewfoot came into it. It was more of the stick between the legs and Nichol getting corkscrewed at the very end than a slewfoot. The only other play I can remember Spacke being involved with was the dive at a players legs a few years back.

[TBLfan 25]

it was basically the same thing that bertuzzi did, only difference was the outcome(and obviously where he hit him). He should be severely fined and suspended.

[kosydar 0]

it was basically the same thing that bertuzzi did, only difference was the outcome

And the fact that he punched him from the side, it wasn't premeditated, he didn't jump on his back, and it was retalitory, need I go on?

[TBLfan 25]

it was a sucker punch, simple as that.

Bertuzzi didn't premeditatedly paralize Moore, he went after him and Moore wouldn't respond. And from what I remember it wasn't just because he felt like it, I recall the situation brewing(and I don't mean just the infamous no-call hit on Naslund in a previous game, it was brewing all game).

Nichol didn't even man-up and push or attempt to fight Spacek, he just hit him. As far as Spacek knew there was no incident, no ill feelings. Now I'm not trying to discount the Bertuzzi incident as a extremely violent act but this was just as violent. Regardless whether he hit him from the side or from behind, he didn't know it was coming.

[#96 0]

Spacek's play was an interference first of all. He tangled up with Nichol away from the puck, initiated the contact, and directed him into the net. That needs to be called. Nichol's response, although I'm all for sticking up for yourself, especially on questionable plays, Nichol went too far. At least square up before you start throwing punches. It wasn't completely from behind and it was immediately following a questionable play that Spacek was directly involved in. Spacek didn't sustain any long term injury either, aside from getting his wimpy Czech feelings hurt. Maybe 3-5 games max, IMHO.

[Bazan110584 0]

I think Rob Ray said it best. He wasn't against throwing a punch at all, in fact, he's all for it. But there's a certain way to do it, and from behind Spacek is nothing but a dirty move that has no place in the NHL. Instead, Razor said he would have turned Spacek around, and THEN thrown the punch. At least that way he can see it coming, and have a chance to block, duck, or roll with it.

And yes, Spacek did get a penalty for interference.

[Eazy_b97 1]

He didn't feel that way when he jumped Poni a few seasons ago. If you're looking him in the face or the side, it doesn't really matter. Unless he is expecting or anticipating a punch there is no way he is avoiding it.

[Booth 0]

I dont feel that he deserved 9 games...but what are your options?

Its not like spacek is gonna square up and drop the gloves, he also did a very dangerous play, and you cant tell me, his spider sence/peripheral vision didnt see this coming.

If your going to be running people into goals...your going to be getting punched in the face. Simple concept...live with it.

I think this is an issue of accountability. Im not condoning the sucker punch...but i think if your not gonna back up what you do, then dont do it. Spacek wouldnt have dropped the gloves with nichol, so he shouldnt be running him into goals. Its that simple.

I do find the funniest thing to come out of this is red wings fans...I too am a wings fan, and while reading a wings message board, got to listen to a bunch of red wings fans say that scott nichol cant handle himself in a fair fight...not only would he have killed spacek...he is tougher than every wings player...by a fair bit.

An enforcer should have taken care of buisness by pounding the crap out of nashvilles best player.

[G.M. 0]

Agreed and Spacek should get the same suspension at the very least, plus, a minor for interference.

Take a look at when Spacek targets Nichol; Spacek targets him at the top of the circles. If that isn't intent to injure from the start, then what is?

Spacek got what he had coming to him. I'll be in the minority on this, but, I say good for Scott Nichol!

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

[Alias81 0]

...So your a preds fan.

[G.M. 0]

Nope, not at all. I think what Spacek did was every bit as cheap as what Nichol did. The difference is that Nichol knocked Spacek down and out.

...So your a preds fan.

[pwrfwd26 0]

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

wow 3-4 :o thats nuts!

[kosydar 0]

When you suspend someone for 11% of the season, it should be for something a lot worse than that. You realize that 9 games is at least 3 weeks out of the season, right? Thats a pretty damn big suspension.

[chippa13 1844]

Nine games sounds fine to me. He had every reason to be pissed but the sucker punch deserves the time off.

[D-MaN88 0]

Don't get me wrong, I'm NO WHERE near ever playing in the NHL or any league close, but as I do play D, when you do stuff to guys that you know you can't take don't do it. Spacek knew he couldn't handle Nichol so he should have no where near even tried anything close to that. And also as D, when you do something like that not only are you putting yourself for a retalitory reaction to get yourself hurt, your also taking the chance at getting your teammates blasted and in that case maybe even injuring your goalie for however long depending on the seriousness. Yes Nichol handled his reaction and anger wrong, but 9 games for that is a joke. The NHL needs to start calling the stuff and punishing the stuff that initiates the cheap shots behind the play. Miss call and judgement by the NHL. If your going to punish the reaction, punish the cause.

[willy0314 0]

did anybody ever look at the replay and think maybe spacek just tried to tie up his stick to prevent him from knocking in a crossing pass, and the sticks got tangled up in Nichol's feet and he ended up into the goal post? Im pretty sure if I was going to run someone, at near full speed into the post right next to my goalie, I wouldn't stand there like a dumbass and face the other way once I took the guy out. Dude got suspended because he reached up from behind and cracked the guy when he wasn't looking. That act is exactly the same as the Burtuzzi thing, just no one got seriously hurt. If anything 9 games isn't enough.

[kosydar 0]

That act is exactly the same as the Burtuzzi thing, just no one got seriously hurt. If anything 9 games isn't enough.

If you're going to say that in all seriousness, at least change your avatar so you look somewhat objective. That'd be like me saying Vandermeer should get 20 games for his kneeing of Peca because he hurt another player, just like Dale Hunter did to Turgeon 20+ years ago.

[Eazy_b97 1]

did anybody ever look at the replay and think maybe spacek just tried to tie up his stick to prevent him from knocking in a crossing pass, and the sticks got tangled up in Nichol's feet and he ended up into the goal post? Im pretty sure if I was going to run someone, at near full speed into the post right next to my goalie, I wouldn't stand there like a dumbass and face the other way once I took the guy out. Dude got suspended because he reached up from behind and cracked the guy when he wasn't looking. That act is exactly the same as the Burtuzzi thing, just no one got seriously hurt. If anything 9 games isn't enough.

Even if it wasn't intentional, they play still ended up boarderline and he should've prepared for some retribution. Alot of hits from behind are boarderline where the player getting hit just trips and falls with someone on his back, but you still need to be ready for the way it looks. Nichol obviously thought it was intentional and got retribution. To compare this to Bertuzzi is completely biased and 9 games is an incredibly heavy suspension.

Bertuzzi's was

- Premeditated

- Completely from behind

- Weeks after

- Unprovoked

- Following a hit the NHL deemed "legal"

- Caused a much more serious injury

Nichol's weren't any of those things.

[willy0314 0]

How is blasting a guy from behind when he isn't looking at you any different from situation to situation? The NHL needs to punish the act itself, not the results of and not concerning all the circumstances around it. If that punch would have shattered his jaw, then what? More punishment just because spacek got hurt?

[Eazy_b97 1]

and if Spacek's cheap shot lands Nichol head first into the pole and breaks his neck, then what? He's gone for the season, at least. Yet there was no suspension and you support it.

What if Briere's Spear ruptured one of Ovechkin's testicles? People have died from hockey and jock related injuries. Should he be gone for life?

and if Spacek's cheap shot lands Nichol head first into the pole and breaks his neck, then what? He's gone for the season, at least. Yet there was no suspension and you support it.

What if Briere's Spear ruptured one of Ovechkin's testicles? People have died from hockey and jock related injuries. Should he be gone for life?

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

How is blasting a guy from behind when he isn't looking at you any different from situation to situation? The NHL needs to punish the act itself, not the results of and not concerning all the circumstances around it. If that punch would have shattered his jaw, then what? More punishment just because spacek got hurt?

Or spearing a guy in the nuts, pretty bad too