Donald Brashear Suspended for Hit on Betts

Here is how the suspensions are shaking out in the Rangers vs. Capitals series that comes to its Game 7 conclusion tomorrow. Torts gets 1 game for throwing stuff at fans, Donald Brashear gets 1 for a push at center ice before the game and 5 for a late hit in the game on Blair Betts. I love the consistency! But at least we now know that it’s only Brashear from the Capitals that is sidelined for Game 7. Somehow, ESPN thought Norris-Finalist Mike Green was included in the suspensions. Each and every day, I wonder if anyone is even watching hockey at that network (Buccigross excluded, of course).

Do enforcers matter in a Game 7 anyway?

First of all, if Brash is going to get a game for pushing Colten Orr before the game, how many games should Wade Belak get for knocking him the fuck out in Nashville earlier this season? Second of all, this wasn’t elbowing, boarding or anything else that the league loves to penalize. It was a late hit, plain and simple. It was a very hard late hit, but besides the timing, it was clean.

That being said, Brashear’s hit definitely warranted action by Colin Campbell and the league offices. If one of the purposes of suspensions is to act as a deterrent from the actions repeating themselves, then this is a perfect situation to hand out a temporary vacation for Brash. So the question wasn’t “IF he should be suspended,” it was “for how many games?” So let’s get into it, shall we?

I’ve spoken to a few New York fans and a few fans in Washington to get an idea of the local reaction to the suspension. Most Rangers fans say that its right, Caps fans say that it’s too much. That alone makes me think that it’s probably a game or two too many.

Here’s the best way to look at suspensions—when the victim’s team thinks that that penalty wasn’t severe enough and the perpetrator’s fans think that it was too severe, it’s probably just about right. When biased fans think that it’s right, it’s probably not. I’m aware that if a Los Angeles King is involved in a suspension, I’m probably not the best person to ask for an unbiased opinion.

From an outsiders perspective—and an admitted Western Conference fan—the suspension looks like it was a bit much. If it wasn’t Donald Brashear and/or he wasn’t involved in an incident during the game, there’s a good chance that the pre-game “festivities” would have gone unpunished.

The hit, eh, it looked like a 3 gamer, but I could be wrong. I’m not in the business of handing out suspensions (thank God), but it’s pretty easy when something looks right or not. Three games LOOKS about right for a big hit that the NHL doesn’t like in the playoffs; it just doesn’t LOOK like a 6 game suspension. Remember, the difference between 3 and 6 games in the playoffs is HUGE! If the Caps are to win Game 7, Brashear will still be out for the majority of the next series. The hit was bad, but it wasn’t THAT bad.

At the end of the day, I doubt Washington Capitals fans are going to lose too much sleep over this one. Brashear’s exodus provides a spot for Captain Chris Clark to make it back into the lineup. Of course, Brashear has been playing for a reason—but it looks like they’ll have the perfect replacement lacing ‘em up in Game 7.