NHL And Sidney Crosby Need To Be Punished

Storyline: I’m beginning to question the NHL. Why isn’t Sidney Crosby getting suspended? And why is the NHL unable to make calls consistently?

There is controversy in the NHL. It’s about missed penalties in two games on Pittsburgh Penguins’ center Sidney Crosby. The NHL said it would not investigate or suspend Crosby.

Many people are outraged. They want answers.

Here’s the scoop. On March 21st the Penguins took on the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo. Sidney Crosby scored the first goal of the game, which turned out to be a 3-1 win for Pittsburgh. During the game Crosby skated behind Sabres’ center Ryan O’Reilly and hacked him between the legs with his stick. No call.

Crosby said it was an accidental play. But if you watch the video (see below on YouTube courtesy SportsNetCanada) it’s clear that Sid did this with full intent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j62aREfekxQ

The play was not reviewed by the NHL.

Two nights later in Ottawa, Senators’ defenseman Marc Methot was skating into the offensive zone when Crosby blatantly slashed him in the hand. When Methot took off his glove he found that the tip of his finger was gone. It looked like a Hollywood makeup artist was preparing him to play a part in a horror film.

(Video from YouTube courtesy SportsNetCanada)

On the play Crosby looked like he was doing a lumberjack impression, but claims it was “a reaction to the play.”

Even though a referee was staring at the play, no penalty was called. It should’ve been a sure call. There’s no excuse for a professional referee to not make that call.

Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk was livid after the no-call. After the game he said: “Sometimes they miss these things. I hope this guy, and we all know who he is, the guy is a just a whiner beyond belief.” “You do this kind of stuff, and I don’t care who you are in the league, I don’t care if you’re the No. 1 player in the league, you should sit out a long time for this kind of crap. I really do.”

Melnyk had talked to the NHL about a suspension for Crosby but, in the end, nothing was done about the play.

Melnyk has “called for Crosby’s head” after the NHL decided not to do anything about the incident. Now every team in the NHL is going after Crosby.

These episodes are making me question the NHL. Why isn’t Crosby getting suspended? And why is the NHL unable to make calls consistently?

Consider this. During a NHL Stadium Series between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh earlier this season Brandon Manning hit Jake Guentzel. Guentzel didn’t have the puck, so an interference call should’ve been made. But even though no call was made, Manning was suspended for two games. The hit was a clean one, though, and should not have been suspension-worthy.

So why is Manning getting suspended for a missed call and a clean hit, yet Crosby isn’t called for spearing a guy in his privates and chopping off a guy’s finger? It blows my mind that the NHL doesn’t feel Crosby’s actions were serious enough to suspend and/or fine him. That inaction should be a major headline across NHL cities and a story in the mainstream news.

Crosby’s actions were unacceptable and the same goes for the NHL. When a player acts like Crosby acted, something needs to be done.