Pierre McGuire shows penalized hits as winning formula for Lightning
NHL on NBC analyst Pierre McGuire called for the Tampa Bay Lightning to play more physical hockey in Game 3 of their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In order to show examples of successful ways the Lightning pounded the Penguins in Game 1, controversial illegal hits were shown.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contest today]
A clip of Ryan Callahan’s 5-minute major for boarding Kris Letang was shown during the montage as was Ondrej Palat’s 2-minute boarding minor on defenseman Brian Dumoulin. After Palat’s hit, Dumoulin left the game, though he did return for Game 2.
Both didn’t merit supplemental discipline, but both drew heated reactions from the Penguins.
“As far as the hits, they’re hits from behind,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said after Game 1.
This comes one day after NBCSN analyst Mike Milbury indicated the St. Louis Blues needed to ramp up their physicality when taking penalties by injuring the San Jose Sharks.
“This is so unsatisfying for me as a former coach to watch a player with a slash that doesn’t really hurt him. If you’re going to slash him, crack a bone or something. If you’re going to hit somebody from behind, give him a slight concussion or whatever. I don’t mean that obviously too seriously, but just something!” he said.
Milbury also did say he didn’t mean it “too seriously.”
Still, this wasn’t seen as funny wrote the Chicago Tribune.
And then hearing a provocateur like Mike Milbury of NBC advocate on the air causing injuries and concussions in the name of toughness, I realize how immense the challenge remains. How will young hockey players ever get the message if the so-called caretakers of the sport keep delivering it so clumsily?
So far, the Lightning have only taken one penalty in Game 3, a slash by Callahan.
MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY
– – – – – – –
Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
