Zbynek Michalek avoids suspension, fine for hit to head of Caps’ Matt Hendricks

Pens fan here. I missed this when it happened, but upon review, this was a bad hit. Zyb even admitted after the game that the hit wasn't clean.

Being that he has no history and is not normally this type of player, he probably should have been given only a game or two.

IMO, if the league REALLY wants to get the game cleaned up of these plays, they need to act on all hits like this, regardless of whether the person is a repeat offender or not. 1 or 2 games should be the standard starting point for non-repeat offenders and work up from there. Only after everyone starts to understand that bad hits like this are always going to lead to supplementary discipline in the form of suspensions, will the players as a whole really start to look at the hits they're making. As of right now, even though it's gotten better than it was, there is still a better than even chance that they will not be suspended for borderline and bad hits, with this hit highlighting as such.

Caps fan... Ovi#$%$ was reckless, and I think a suspension is warranted. However, to say the head was the principal and/or intended point of contact is WRONG. Shanny acknowledges as such in his video, and anyone who OBJECTIVELY watches the replay will say that he hits the shoulders and rides up to the head.That said, I really don't understand how Michalek got off. Whether the elbow to the head is intentional or not, he is clearly trailing Hendricks from behind while purposefully aiming to check him into the boards, from as far away as the edge of the faceoff circle. This is a clear instance of boarding, only compounded further by driving his forearm/elbow to the head. The resulting injury, or lack thereof, to Hendricks should not be the determining factor. As stated, boarding consists of a hit to a defenseless player that causes a violent impact with the boards. The onus is on Michalek, seeing that Hendricks was in a defenseless position, to AVOID or MINIMIZE contact. He, in fact, did the opposite and went out of his way to initiate a hard check. Look at the video again - how does that not warrant disciplinary action?This is the exactly the kind of stuff the NHL is trying to crack down on, and this sends an inconsistent message. Who knows, maybe I'm just sensitive to this because of the situations w/Jablonski and Privette.

The NHL is just really inconsistent. I agreed with Ovechkin's three game suspension (even said he should get three games when I was watching). I do think that Michalek should have gotten fined or suspended a game. The league shouldn't consider the result of the play - they should consider the hit regardless of injury. Michalek isn't a dirty player, but he had plenty of time to realize that his forearm was on Hendricks's neck and that he was going smash his head into the boards. If Hendricks was injured, you'd be sure Michalek would receive one or two games.

As a Caps fan I'm fine with suspension for Ovechkin but to see that this gets nothing? Isn't this exactly the kind of hit they are trying to get rid of?

Z Michalek should have been fined and suspended one game (given his lack of history), as he clearly drove his opponents head into the boards using his forearm. Pens fan here; Shanahan is all over the place. I see the only fix is making fines and suspensions automatic for contact to the head.

I am a Penguins fan and I didn't feel that either this hit or Ovi's deserve a suspension. Although a charging call on Ovi would have been nice seeing how he left his feet. I remember when suspensions occurred when injuries were invovled not just when it was a questionable hit.

If PMB can be "held accountable for his stick" and got suspended, then certainly this joker should be held accountable for his ELBOW and be suspended as well. Sounds like most of us agree that consistency is lacking so far.

Caps fan here. To be clear and fair up front, OV deserved a suspension for the hit he leveled against Michalek - he left his feet prior to the hit and the hit resulted in contact to Michalek's head. 3 games seems a bit much, but whatever. It's a retroactive 180 minute misconduct, which is a bit over-the-top.

The real problem is the absolute inconsistency of suspensions. First of all, consider the case of Rene Bourque. He had a two game suspension earlier this year, then flat-out elbows Nick Backstrom in a flagrant hit to the head and gets five games. Backstrom hasn't played since. So a repeat offender (within the same season, no less), gets five games for a direct, intentional shot to the head that resulted in injury. OV, in a charge that was intentional (he did leave his feet before initiating contact after all) that resulted in secondary contact to the head, gets three games, despite (within the context of the CBA) not being a repeat offender and no injury resulting.

Five minutes after OV hit Michalek, Michalek himself runs Hendricks into the boards with an elbow firmly planted in the head and driving Hendrick's head hard into the glass. He wasn't trying to play the puck - his arm was aiming for Hendrick's head and he clearly adjusts the position of his arm before the contact. Watching the video, it's clear he's leaning forward and lunging for the head, and he uses the knee to drive Hendricks harder into the boards. No apparent injury results, and no further disciplinary action.

When the head is deliberately targeted, there should be a suspension involved. If Ovechkin gets three games, repeat offender Borque gets five games, then Michalek should get at least one game - that way, he's at least on record as being an offender, rather than having a "clean" record if a similar violation should occur in the future.

Shanaban is stern, but man is he inconsistent! Come ON, man - pick a set of rules and stick with it, no matter who the player is or who they play for!! The Ovi call was correct, this one was NOT. Quit making excuses FOR the players (i.e.: "his knee buckled") and sack up.

I really had high hopes at the start of this season with a new person in charge, but the Wheel o' Justice has returned. How is it possible that Ference a fist time offender gets 3 games and this gets zero. He slammed the guys face into the boards. Knee buckling is a poor excuse he hits him clear in the numbers, no turn at the last second. Classic boarding. So sad.

And Greg where is the blog today on the confirmation of Horton having a concussion and Sesito getting away with no punishment at all?

Where are all of those whiny Vancouver/Montreal/Buffalo fans now? Can you imagine what they would be crying about on here if this was a guy on the Bruins getting away with something as blatant as this?

Any Canucks fans care to explain how the league still favors Boston? Three games for Ference even though he had 0 suspensions in an 11-year career, but not even a fine for this?

Another jackass call by the league. Ovie should have gotten 3 and did. Michalek's was more reckless because he hit Hendrick from behind without a chance to protect himself. NHL, Nascar on ice.

Could have used a few of those from Milan in the Oilers series....

Bettman protecting his "model franchise" again.

Nothing new to see here.

Brendan "The Man" Shanahan has negative credibility and has proven he's incapable of doing the job. How sad. Being a great player doesn't mean great in the front office. Just ask Gretzky.

I want to see suspensions here, but I also like that Shanahan taking account when the right call was made on the ice in the first place.

Pens fan. Think Ovie deserved 2 or more games for leaving his feet, targeting the head, and having done so before. But Michalek deserved a game out too imho. Seemed too much like a retaliatory hit in my book for the one not called on him. First offense and all, but a game wouldn't have surprised me.

Wow. What a joke. Where is Mario? Shouldn't he have spewed some "garage league" comments by now?