Mar 10 When Justice Doesn't Prevail

“This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface."
- Mike Murphy, NHL Senior VP of Hockey Operations

With that statement and the accompanied announcement that Zdeno Chara would not be disciplined further for his disgusting hit on Max Pacioretty Tuesday night, a collective tidal wave of outrage swept over much of the hockey world that resulted in governments threatening investigations, 911 lines being flooded and a major corporation threatening sponsorship withdrawal....and with good reason. This is the result of what happens when justice doesn't prevail.

The "hockey play" Mike Murphy referred to is when one player angles another player into the boards and "rubs him out" preventing him from pursuing the play. When the play is done correctly, it's all shoulder with the hands staying more or less at waist level, especially when the player committing the act has the size advantage Chara has over Pacioretty. The picture taken by Shaun Best of Reuters that has since gone viral shows the large black Easton glove of Chara pressed against the vulnerable Bauer helmet-covered head of Pacioretty as it smashes helplessly into the now-infamous stanchion separating the players benches at the Bell Centre. Folks, that's not a hockey play. That's a needless, malicious and reckless intent to injure someone and I will never be convinced otherwise of that.

For whatever reason, Chara was consulted by the league prior to their decision as if Chara would say something to incriminate himself and put his team at a disadvantage by being forced to sit out at least a game. Yet Pacioretty, who was more than willing to speak out to several media outlets from his hospital bed on Wednesday night, was not. In this instance, I understand the NHL's decision not to speak with Pacioretty as the kid is obviously emotional but how the league can factor Chara's words into their decision and not Pacioretty's is incomprehensible. The video evidence and history between the two players gives every fact and detail necessary to make the proper decision. If the league insisted on taking outside opinions into account, talk to both players. Otherwise, talk to neither.

So once the NHL washed their hands of the entire issue, the fallout was predictable and justifiable. The passion of Montreal hockey fans was heard loud with airwaves flooding with suggestions for various forms of protest. They ranged from boycotting and forfeiting games, unfollowing the official NHL twitter account and writing to NHL sponsors to call on them to follow Air Canada's lead and threaten to withdraw valuable sponsorship dollars. Once again, there were also calls for the team to call up Alex Henry from Hamilton to inflict revenge during the next Habs-Bruins match-up on March 24th.

I'm all for reasonable protests where the only victim ends up being the NHL's image and pocketbook but enough proverbial blood has been spilled in this rivalry for this season. Alex Henry demolishing Brad Marchand doesn't make Max Pacioretty return to the Habs lineup anytime soon or even lift him out of his hospital bed. It only continues the vicious cycle of senseless violence and once cooler heads prevail, reasonable minds can agree that no one wants that. I am of the firm belief that Chara knew exactly what he was doing and because of that, I am of the firm belief that he's having a little more trouble sleeping at night than he was before Tuesday night. I take solace in that because I have to.

Photo Credit: Reuters/Shaun Best

Tags: Boston Bruins \ Max Pacioretty \ Mike Murphy \ Montreal Canadiens \ NHL \ Zdeno Chara