Subban no- ban sours Sens
MONTREAL — P. K. Subban was back on the Montreal Canadiens’ blueline for Game 2 Friday night.
All he got for a slash on Mark Stone’s wrist was a slap on the wrist in return.
It wasn’t surprising to see the Habs’ alternate captain suit up against the Senators as the first- round series continued at the Bell Centre, but it certainly sends the message that sometimes the NHL goes out of its way not to suspend rather than do the right thing.
The officials did the right thing in Game 1 Wednesday after Subban slashed the right wrist of Ottawa’s highest- scoring winger by giving Subban a five- minute major and sending him packing for the rest of the night.
But what kind of message is the NHL sending by not suspending Subban?
“I honestly don’t know what they factor in,” said defenceman Mark Borowiecki before the puck was dropped. “I’ve watched so many of those suspension videos for hits and stuff I’m not really sure how they look at it or deem it suspendable or not.
“Obviously, it was a pretty dirty slash and maybe a little unfortunate in the area it caught him. That ’ s a pretty tough spot. It’s so hard to weigh in on that. I don’t know if disappointed is the right word ( for Subban not being suspended). You want to see consequences for actions like that. It is what it is at this point.”
NHL VP Stephane Quintal, a former NHL defenceman who took over the department of safety when Brendan Shanahan left the thankless job to bolt for the Maple Leafs ( another thankless job), has left a sour taste in the mouth of Ottawa officials because the ruling came down early Thursday morning before the extent of the injury to Stone was determined.
Of course, the big question is, does the decision by the league not to suspend just promote vigilante justice?
“That’s tough. We’re a pretty tight- knit group in here. We’re a family and we’re going to stick up for one another and take care of each other,” Borowiecki said. “We’re not going to go out of our way to injure a guy. No one really does that these days.
“I don’t think that’s good for the game. That’s not going to happen. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to chip it in ( Subban’s) corner and try to smack him good. That’s just the way it is.
“I’m not going to go out there and play dirty and try to hurt someone. I think it kind of kicks it up a notch, to finish ( a check) on that guy, that’s going to happen.”
Coach Dave Cameron said before the game the Senators would be crazy to try to get away with an extra- curricular activities on Subban or anyone else for that matter because they were under a heavy watch.
Cameron basically said it would be stupid for the Senators to try anything in Game 2.
“The analogy I use is it’s going to be like trying to break into a police station and trying to steal something,” Cameron said. “You ain’t gettin’ away with it ... but we still want to be physical. We’re not going to win if we don’t.”
THE LAST WORDS
Ottawa winger Colin Greening hasn’t been on the ice in the last two days and Cameron confirmed he’s nursing “something.” Greening hasn’t suited up since March 29 and has been scratched eight straight games ... The Senators returned to Ottawa immediately after the game on Friday night by train and are scheduled to be on the ice Saturday ... The Senators announced the details for a private memorial for assistant coach Mark Reeds, who lost his battle with cancer Tuesday. The Celebration of will be held Monday at 2 p. m. at the Canadian Tire Centre.
At the request of Reeds’ family it will be closed to the public and media. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ottawa Cancer Foundation, care of Esophageal Research, 1500 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ont., K1G 3Y9. A funeral mass will be held in St. Louis in the future. Any questions may be directed to: celebrationoflife@ ottawasenators. com.