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dowload do net bus 1.7October 19, 2005
Monday & Tuesday, 10/18-19 Press.
Monday brought us an editorial by Don Brennan suggesting that Havlat didn't have a lot of options. In another brief piece, Brennan also states As he was being pushed into the back of the net by the much larger Bruin, he retaliated with a kick that, if it connected, didn't hurt Gill. However, Matt Kalhan shares Gill, meanwhile, said he’s sporting a bruise.
The news came shortly after noon eastern time TSN reported that Havlat had been given a 5 game suspension. Since the pay he's forfeiting is only about $66K, he wasn't treated as a repeat offender in terms of his fine. If he had been, it would have been closer to $160K.
Tuesday brought a screencapped picture of Marty's foot connecting with Gill's groin on the Citizen's front page, with the caption MARTIN HAVLAT'S $66,326.55 KICK, and another round of articles.
Chris Stevenson had a field day with the puns. Some snips:
Hal Gill wound up with only a raspberry on the gooseberries.
The Boston Bruins defenceman didn't quite get away without a scratch when Senators forward Martin Havlat aimed his right skate at Gill's private parts Saturday night.
"He got me. It's not bad. I got like a raspberry out of it," Gill told Boston reporters yesterday.
"But did you see the video? It was pretty blatant. There's worse things you can do, but that's not a good thing ... and I've heard he's done it before." [...]
Senators coach Bryan Murray couldn't condone a kick either and he wasn't happy with the way Don Cherry kicked around the topic on his post-game Coach's Corner.
"The commentary afterward pointed it out to the league. It wouldn't have been a focal point," said Murray, who added after a moment's consideration and with a nice touch of humour: "Maybe that's not fair. I think there's always pressure on people who make decisions based on the opinions that are expressed.
"Look at me, I play the guys you want me to play on the lines all the time."
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Chris Stevenson then brought us some words from the anti-christ himself:
"I have nothing to say. I can't change anything," said Havlat, who wasn't exactly making apologies. "There's no place in hockey for kicking. It doesn't matter what I say now, five games is five games." [...]
"History is always important and I don't think you should ever kick in this league. I agree that when you do, you pay the price for it, but this is an extreme price," said Senators coach Bryan Murray. "Using your skate is a problem, no question." [...]
Murray said he wasn't happy with the attention the play got from Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry. Murray said he believed it was a factor in the league taking action.
Murray also wondered why Gill wasn't penalized.
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Ken Warren did his part for the Ottawa Citizen:
"There's nothing to say, I can't change anything," a sheepish, tight-lipped Havlat said after learning his fate during a conference call involving Colin Campbell, the NHL's vice-president of hockey operations. "It's their decision. Hopefully, I'll be back in five games. There's no place in hockey for kicking."
The incident occurred early in the second period of Saturday's game, which the Senators won 5-1. Following a shift in which Havlat dominated and had several scoring chances, Gill pushed Havlat into the side of the Bruins' net. Gill then punched Havlat. As Havlat was falling to the ice, he twice swung his foot at Gill's groin, connecting the second time.
At that point, Senators right- winger Chris Neil came to Havlat's defence. Both Neil and Gill received penalties.
Havlat's kicking was missed by on-ice officials, and he didn't receive a penalty on the play.
The act, however, was shown over and over again on replays during the game broadcast by CBC. Following the game, acerbic commentator Don Cherry ranted against Havlat. [...]