The big news out of the NHL last week was the discussion of fighting in the game of hockey. Last week featured two of the most physical and penalty-filled games in nearly a decade.
One of these games was an original six rivalry between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens, the other involved the injury-plagued Pittsburgh Penguins and the lowly New York Islanders. While both of these games were hard-hitting and exciting to watch, they were completely different when interpreted through the unwritten “code” of hockey.
In hockey there is an unwritten code of conduct that governs the physical actions that take place on the ice. This code is interpreted in many different ways, and as such, it has been a hotly contested issue in the hockey world for decades.
The purpose of the code is to uphold the honor and integrity of the players on the ice so that no cheap shots are thrown and only willing combatants take part in any fights.
Believe it or not, the code actually prevents more fights than it causes, and this is the big misconception among people who don’t fully understand the game of hockey.
Last week’s game between Boston and Montreal was a definite game of the year candidate. It featured 14 goals, seven of which came in a span of 6:19. The game was also heated and was highlighted by 12 fighting majors and a total of 182 penalty minutes.
But despite all of this, the league handed out no suspensions or fines. This can be attributed to the players sticking to the code.
Players stood up for their teammates, but they did so only by fighting with those who were willing. Not a single cheap shot was thrown, nor were there any hits from behind or to the head.
So while the game may have seemed out of hand to some, in reality the fans, players and coaches around the league all thoroughly enjoyed the game and even referred to it as a clean game.
Just two days after that game, the Pittsburgh Penguins rolled into Long Island to take on the Islanders who were looking to get revenge for a hit on forward Blake Comeau that occurred just weeks before.
Early in the game, the Islanders had jumped out to a massive 6-0 lead when Matt Martin of the Islanders skated up to Maxime Talbot and sucker-punched him from behind, giving him no opportunity to defend himself.
Then, in the third period, Trevor Gillies took a run at Penguins youngster Eric Tangradi, hitting him high and then throwing several punches while Tangradi appeared slumped over and injured.
In the ensuing brawl, Micheal Haley, after finishing another fight with Talbot, skated towards the penalty box un-escorted, was challenged to a fight by the Penguin’s goaltender Brent Johnson. Hailey accepted and another brawl ensued.
Overall, 346 penalty minutes were handed out and the league suspended three players for a total of 23 games in addition to fining the Islanders a total of $100,000.
The code was not at all followed in this game. Martin’s sucker punch has no place in the game of hockey and Gillies hit to the head was a stupid and pointless play.
That being said, the refs were absolutely at fault as they completely lost control of the game and failed to take appropriate measures to prevent the chaos that lead to the suspensions.
These two games exemplified the need for the existence of hockey’s code.
Without it, we see the worst in hockey, but with it we are treated to the intensity, physicality and above all, integrity that make up the game of hockey.
Daniel Pineyro can be reached at dpineyro@spartans.ut.edu.
Daniel, interesting look at the whole thing. As an Islander fan – watch out with the term “hapless”!! 🙂 The Islanders lead the league with man/games lost due to injury – way more than the “injury depleted” Pens. Also, take a look at a recent Pens incident to show “the code”…. Matt Cooke ( who is serving a suspension for another hit to a different player at this time) hit Marc Savard of the Bruins – and he was concussed. The Bruins took exception….The next time the two teams played – Cooke accepted a fight with the Bruins Shawn Thornton. Situation resolved.
Max Talbot of the Pens (the player who concussed Comeau) refused to fight Comeau later in the original game when challenged. And I am sure that several Isles players tried to fight Talbot in the rematch….and this whole donnybrook could have been avoided – according to the “code” if Talbot “manned up” and fought an Isles player. Micheal Haley (correct spelling) offered to go with Talbot and he declined that and several taps.
Matt Martin and Trevor Gillies (correct spelling) were wrong and were suspended….and the Isles fined heavily. Of course – the Pens had a player leave the bench – and he recieved an automatic suspension and the coach got away without a suspension or fine and the Pens were not fined at all…..PL329 correctly points out that the instigator penalty has upset the “self policing’ that the “code” used to permit. While the instigator penalty is useful – in terms of keeping marginal players from starting fights with elite players without penalty….the referees should be given some latitude here – and I would welcome ideas on that – I am not sure how to properly solve it.
The lack of an instigator penalty would allow the players to police each other….and permit for some immediate justice to the system -and deter some of the crazy play going on now.
Gillies and Martin deserve their suspensions. I suggest that if the code had been followed (Like Cooke did but Talbot did not) – and the instigator penalty were relaxed – this situation would have been fixed in the game at Pittsburgh and not carried over.
Much of what you have to say here is incorrect. First of all, the League & Colin Campbell don’t use the Code. Fines, suspensions, etc are handed out how and when he deems appropriate, not according to the Code.
Second, the Code is largely a myth now. Since the institution of the Instigator penalty, the role of the enforcer has virtually disappeared in the NHL. Now it’s up to the whole team to try to enforce. That’s why brawls like the Isles-Pittsburg shitshow happened. Pittsburg pulled some dirty nonsense both on and off the ice. Did you see Pittsburg’s comments in the media before the game? The Isles talked back. Then, the Isles players took it upon themselves to respond on the ice, and yes, Gillies took it too far. He’s not the traditional Enforcer, he’s just a tough guy who got mad. Enforcers weren’t mad, they were guys doing a job, protecting their team.
The instigator penalty ruined the system. Now everyone gets mad, carries grudges, and violence and fights get out of hand.