I Think This Is It . . . It's a Hit

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 21, 2011 3:18 AM PDT in Playoffs

ARTHUR:
The above video is provided for your review. While I expect some sort of discussion of late hits, blindside hits, and various Zapruder Film breakdowns in the comments, I don't have too much to add as far as my opinion. I think Ruutu catches the outside shoulder, but that doesn't mean he doesn't also catch the head. I also think Ruutu approaches from a lateral angle, but that doesn't mean he didn't establish himself in front of Erat at all. Argue as you see fit.

Honestly, though, it's just not the kind of hit that I feel sparks a discussion; it's not all that impressive. I'm not even sure that he intends to do anything untoward (though I can hear the rabble-rousing Predators fans grumbling the name 'Ruutu.') If Erat spots Ruutu in time, that's not even going to be a hard bump. Doug Weight smoking Brandon Sutter-- that's a hit worth discussing, a hit where the guy is absolutely erased, and you have to ask yourself what the game loses for the sake of that danger and what the game might lose if a player cannot be secure in his ability to put his shoulder into another player's chest (regardless of whether or not he does, in fact, get the chest at which he is aiming).

What I actually think is worthy of discussion is Bob McKenzie's tweet afterwards:

Ruutu hit on Erat appears late. Our video guy says 24 frames from release of puck to contact. 30 frames=1 sec. NHL std: > .5 secs is late.via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyBob McKenzie
TSNBobMcKenzie

That's right, folks. By video review, Ruutu is exactly 0.3 seconds late. Now, if we can just get the 3DHD footage and isolate the .5 second frame, then we can determine whether Ruutu continues to build speed toward Erat at the 0.5 mark or if he holds up at all. Does he make an angry face during the 0.3 seconds? Obviously, if he continues to build speed and sneer at Erat after the .5 seconds in which he is, by NHL law, required to understand that it will be a late hit, then we can infer malice aforethought and involve the Nashville authorities.

He is NINE frames over the legal limit, your honor. Why is the TSN 'video guy' wasting his time in broadcasting instead of working for CSI Toronto??? . . . the world is an imperfect place.

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Comments

If they look at this

Then they’d better look at the attempted cheap shot on lydman that…

Oh wait, I forgot. The league only cares if you step on someone. Carry on.

by PhantomPretender on Apr 21, 2011 6:27 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Sigh. I guess it’s not a playoff game unless somebody’s crying about something.

www.battleofcali.com

by Earl Sleek on Apr 21, 2011 8:14 AM PDT reply actions

This is probably the one thing

That has irked me the most in this series. The folks at otf seem to be complaining about one or two hits a game and it’s getting old, fast. It’s hockey, it’s a fast-moving game with heightened emotions. We’re not going on extensive diatribes here about rootoo’s failed head shot on lydman. Let. It. Go.

by PhantomPretender on Apr 21, 2011 8:24 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I guess I should include my semi-prophetic cartoon.

Good luck in your upcoming trial, Jar Jar.

www.battleofcali.com

by Earl Sleek on Apr 21, 2011 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

Lol @ the blood for effect.

Nice touch. Never really liked Ruutu anyways.

"That might've been a little push, but that was a major flop. That would make Vlade Divac very proud." - Jerry Reynolds

by JuMowbray on Apr 21, 2011 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh, I didn’t make this based on yesterday — this was made back when the Ducks acquired him. Note his #73 was what he wore before he got to Anaheim — he strayed and wore #37 instead. :)

www.battleofcali.com

by Earl Sleek on Apr 21, 2011 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions

A Sleektoon!

Yeah my Thursday is off to a good start.

by Newport Rebel on Apr 21, 2011 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Why do TSN contributors keep tweeting about our hits? I’m going to have to go through and try to find other examples of this happening to the other teams.

by Daniel AC on Apr 21, 2011 8:32 AM PDT reply actions

When the b-ry suspension debate was raging

People said tsn doomed pronger for his stomp on kesler. As someone who didn’t follow hockey then, was that the case?

by PhantomPretender on Apr 21, 2011 8:38 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah,

They’re usually the first ones to pick up on that kind of stuff.

It’s usually when the games are broadcasted on the station, and then on the highlights they make it known when there is a play that’s over the edge. Versus/NBC/Sportsnet never pick up on stuff and/or have the credibility of TSN when it comes to this stuff.

"That might've been a little push, but that was a major flop. That would make Vlade Divac very proud." - Jerry Reynolds

by JuMowbray on Apr 21, 2011 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions

And if it's not...

…it’s a holiday for hanging.

Two good song picks in a row, Arthur. I heart Jenny Lewis.

Managing editor of From The Rink
www.fromtherink.com

by Mike Chen on Apr 21, 2011 9:42 AM PDT reply actions

Note to self

indie rock headlines guarantee Mike Chen comments :)

Anaheim Calling

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 21, 2011 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Do you know what that hit was? It was interference, and that's a 2 minute minor.

For a guy that has a per game average of 1.65 PIM (that has to be leading the non-goon division, right?) I expect Ruutu to make some dirtbag plays every once in a while. He is Jarkko Ruutu after all, and he’s kind of a dirtbag.

Right call was made on the ice (albeit, by the linesman) and that should be the end of it.

"Puck go in. I very happy." - Lubomir Visnovsky

by Floyd Gondoli on Apr 21, 2011 10:08 AM PDT reply actions

Look if Torres ddin’t get anything for the hit on Seabrook then Ruutu shouldn’t get anything either. Then again the wheel of justice can be a bitch to figure out at times.

by Newport Rebel on Apr 21, 2011 10:22 AM PDT reply actions

I think you’re forgetting that Torres plays for the Stanley Cup favorite Canucks, and Ruutu plays for the Ducks.

by Daniel AC on Apr 21, 2011 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions

This.

"That might've been a little push, but that was a major flop. That would make Vlade Divac very proud." - Jerry Reynolds

by JuMowbray on Apr 21, 2011 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Shit my bad. I forgot. I take it back. Ban Ruutu for life.

by Newport Rebel on Apr 21, 2011 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions

It's true...

Both hits are really comparable, albeit in different positions and places.

Both were high on the shoulders, and almost at the head. And in both cases, the victim fell awkwardly. Even the Getzy hit on Hamhuis earlier this year was like them both.

"That might've been a little push, but that was a major flop. That would make Vlade Divac very proud." - Jerry Reynolds

by JuMowbray on Apr 21, 2011 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah but Ruutu got two for it. Torres got a “atta boy.”

by Newport Rebel on Apr 21, 2011 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Lol, yes..

Totally forgot about that part.

"That might've been a little push, but that was a major flop. That would make Vlade Divac very proud." - Jerry Reynolds

by JuMowbray on Apr 21, 2011 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions

HUGE WIN

Well, that was a must-win, and the Ducks got it. Now home ice advantage is back in Anaheim, and the Ducks have the momentum to take advantage. Corey Perry has been playing out of his mind in the playoffs, too, with six goals and eight points in the series thus far. Two points per game is a great clip that bodes well for the Ducks in the rest of this close matchup. Check out the breakdown:

http://sportstatistics.blogspot.com/2011/04/nhl-playoff-update-western-conference.html

by Andrew Leff on Apr 21, 2011 12:13 PM PDT reply actions

Perry does not have 6 goals. He has 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points. Just sayin’.

by JasonF on Apr 21, 2011 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Someone on AllDucks posted a link to the Anaheim feed of the game. Shows the hit much clearer and shows it to be a shoulder-to-shoulder. Still a hair late, but it’s nothing. Here’s the link if anyone wants to see it better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPd8LJvIpgI

by JasonF on Apr 21, 2011 1:26 PM PDT reply actions

He might have gotten some of the guys chin, because Erat seemed to stick his head out. I don’t think it is a suspension, there are many hits that are .3 seconds late or 9 frames late during a game. It was unfortunate that Erat got injured, but things happen during the game.

by fastat3m on Apr 21, 2011 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions

It was Erat's problem...

…that caused him to go down like that. He may have gotten a little chin after the initial impact, but he did not hit him high. It was pretty much the outside of Ruutu’s shoulder to the front of E-rat’s (as I call him… ) and the fact he had major emergency dental after the accidental face meet end of stick incident. Frankly I am shocked there was no suspension for that the way the NHL is anymore…. This was all out of the BS ‘oh I got sand in my P@$$&’ Nashville complaining. Sorry but if you are so unaware to see a guy coming from your 10 o’clock, well then you are too unaware to play with the big boys in the NHL….

by P-Bear on Apr 21, 2011 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions

It is late, but so what, if Erat had kept skating instead of trying to slow and avoid, he would have hit even more square..not blaming Erat, but it isn’t like he rode him down, it was a late hit, if Ruutu had pulled up a little, it might not even have drawn the interference.

by Buick22 on Apr 21, 2011 1:42 PM PDT reply actions

Mike Brown thinks this hit is garbage. No blood..and real men knock people into the KHL.

"Thank you very much fans and let’s go for the next game together!"

— Lubomir Visnovsky

I rec’d that shit.

by Steven Hida on Apr 21, 2011 2:17 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Anyone have any video of the attempted Tootoo hit on Lydman in the last few minutes of the game?

by DavidBL on Apr 21, 2011 2:34 PM PDT reply actions

Here you are, Sir. Someone posted it on the Preds blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BbLJPqFudE

by JasonF on Apr 21, 2011 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Pred Fans?

Nary a one in sight today for some reason ;-)

by CoachZ on Apr 21, 2011 3:15 PM PDT reply actions

One game for Ruutu. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=560573

by bWOOD on Apr 21, 2011 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

I’ll have what Campbell is smoking.

We need more Boyntons.
Fire Carlye & Murray!
Bench the Penalty Pylon Permanently!

by yankeeken on Apr 21, 2011 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Ridiculous — they’re just making up rules for us as they go along, I guess.

www.battleofcali.com

by Earl Sleek on Apr 21, 2011 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Why the Fuck didn’t Mike Brown get suspended when we were playing the wings? Thats what I want to know…. I swear that hit was just as late.

"Thank you very much fans and let’s go for the next game together!"

— Lubomir Visnovsky

I rec’d that shit.

by Steven Hida on Apr 21, 2011 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I guess there's no point in even talking about suspensions anymore

Between Bobby getting a longer suspension than any of the far more dangerous hits this postseason and Ruutu getting a game for delivering an “excessively late” hit, there’s obviously no rhyme or reason to the disciplinary process. We’re all better off avoiding the topic altogether since we’re just going to drive ourselves mad trying to decipher it.

by PhantomPretender on Apr 21, 2011 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs

It’s simply unacceptable, why aren’t these diciplinaries held to any kind of standard? they continue to get away with murder on these botched suspensions and non suspensions, imagine how pissed we’d all be if it was a more useful player that threw the hit.

by kvd123 on Apr 21, 2011 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions