Tootoo's sucker punch

[kovalchuk71 212]

Wht did you guys think of it? I thought it was totally unnecessary and would like to see him suspended for at least 5 games. This kind of crap seems to be happening more and more.

[ljbaron 0]

Youtube?

Any videos?

[narwhal 0]

That was complete crap. Yes, Robidas was coming in to get into it with Tootoo, but a sucker punch is exactly what it was.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270317027

[TBLfan 25]

If you want to fight you need to square up and drop the gloves. There's a difference between a punch and a "facewash" the league needs to crack down on this. While I wouldn't say 5 games, a 3 game would be fine by me.

[Nov101775 0]

If TooToo doesn't hit him first and gets obliterated, would you say Robidas should get suspendid? what if Tootoo got hauled off on a streatcher?

I'm just saying that obviously Robidas wasn't comming in to square off with Tootoo, he was going to run him. So does that mean Tootoo has to take the hit and then 'Fairly' fight him?

I keep watching the ESPN Video, the second clip is obvioulsy slowed down, but the first is full speed right? If so then Robidas is not charging after Tootoo as bad as I though. (Makeing the case against Tootoo worse)

Do you think it would be as bad if AO had made the hit on Modano? (He seems get up high on lots of his hits)- is the incident worse because of who Tootoo is?

[huffer4 0]

You are correct. If Tootoo doesn't throw that punch he is going to get nailed. If the player wants to do something about the hit then he can fight him, not try to run him back. If somebody is going to go after a guy like Tootoo, he has to be able to handle himself, or he should just stay out of it.

[BigT 4]

pretty nasty....what a pussy modano is though

[DarkStar50 679]

Pussies don't carve out 18 year careers in the NHL with 1227 games played, 503 goals(most by a USA player in the NHL), 714 assists for 1217 points, only 15 points behind Phil Housley for most points by a USA hockey player in his NHL career. Don't forget to add in the 794 penalty minutes. Mike Modano is hardly a pussy.

Robi got two for charging on the Tootoo knockout and a couple of games for receiving.

[MDE3 0]

Not to condone Tootoo, but how many times have you seen the exact same play in front of the net..when someone comes up with a high hit on an offensive player and the offensive player retaliates with a punch automatically...

The major difference here is the speed of the play, where the guy coming in with his forearms levelled at Tootoo's head, obviously has serious retaliation in mind....If Tootoo takes the hit he would likely have gone over backwards and hit his head on the boards...maybe an injury maybe not....If the guy had not been moving so hard to hit Tootoo with a charge, the effect of the punch would have been significantly less...gloves still on.

I think this is a bit different than many foul play type injuries...it was not a premeditated response, but a spontaneous reflex reaction to someone coming at you with intent to do harm.... was it a chickenshit response..maybe...but not unlike may other instances where a player raises his elbow to defend the shot and knocks out the charging player.

[notquitedeadyet 13]

Me too. It's almost like Robidas was totally unprepared for any reaction from Tootoo.

[DarkStar50 679]

in boxing, this is known as "walking into a punch."

[cabreezy 0]

I like the one handed swing modano gives tootoo after the punch

[halfmoonyote 0]

Robidas was skating in with his gloves still on and stick in hand, and down. I think he was coming in just to run some interference.

I understand it was a natural reaction by Tootoo to start swinging, but I also think it was unnecessary. Drop the gloves Jordin.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Pussies don't carve out 18 year careers in the NHL with 1227 games played, 503 goals(most by a USA player in the NHL), 714 assists for 1217 points, only 15 points behind Phil Housley for most points by a USA hockey player in his NHL career. Don't forget to add in the 794 penalty minutes. Mike Modano is hardly a pussy.

Yeah he is.

[Drewhunz 3]

And Messier is a douche :P

Got some good pics for you.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

Robidas was skating in with his gloves still on and stick in hand, and down. I think he was coming in just to run some interference.

I understand it was a natural reaction by Tootoo to start swinging, but I also think it was unnecessary. Drop the gloves Jordin.

He turned around and saw someone coming at him, it was just a natural reaction.(fighters reaction) He had no time to drop the gloves, after he dropped Robidas who was he gonna fight? Modano?

[Eazy_b97 1]

Tootoo has a reputation for cheap shots and early starts in fights. Tootoo was in a one-man fight in this situation.

Give'em 8 games, the same thing Domi got for suckering Ulfie.

[huffer4 0]

Tootoo has a reputation for cheap shots and early starts in fights. Tootoo was in a one-man fight in this situation.

Give'em 8 games, the same thing Domi got for suckering Ulfie.

are you kidding. The guy came in to run him and he swung and connected. If he had not hit him, who knows what would have happened to him. Robidas should have been prepared, or not done anything at all.

[TBLfan 25]

it was the typical come in and shove or hug play. He wasn't coming in to punch tootoo or he would have had his hands up. You see people come in like that every game, there's a difference from getting run at and when they're just grabbing you off of a player.

[Nov101775 0]

How the Hell can Modano watch one of his teammates get decapitated while trying to stand up for him and then not do anything?

I won't go so far as to say he's a pussy, But what the hell?

[huffer4 0]

it was the typical come in and shove or hug play. He wasn't coming in to punch tootoo or he would have had his hands up. You see people come in like that every game, there's a difference from getting run at and when they're just grabbing you off of a player.

re-watch the video. He was coming in with his hands up at Tootoo's head.

[Jake 0]

You are correct. If Tootoo doesn't throw that punch he is going to get nailed. If the player wants to do something about the hit then he can fight him, not try to run him back. If somebody is going to go after a guy like Tootoo, he has to be able to handle himself, or he should just stay out of it.

I feel the same way about it.

[Stampeder 2]

Lots of people would of done the exact same thing. Its retarded in the NHL when you put a nice hit on a star player, the goons always have to go fight them for a clean hit. Good for Tootoo

[kosydar 0]

Keep in mind Nichol got nine games for his sucker punch earlier this year, so expect something similar.

[huffer4 0]

Keep in mind Nichol got nine games for his sucker punch earlier this year, so expect something similar.

But his was totally different. His was from the side/behind and bare hand. Although I do think Spacek should have known something was coming to him, and not just stood there trying to act like nothing happened.

If he gets 8 games for that, the NHL is in worse shape than I thought

Quoted for truth.