Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Entering Sunday's action, Chris Kelly of the Boston Bruins had found himself in just one hockey fight on the 2011-12 season. He doubled that total in a fight with Brayden Schenn of the Philadelphia Flyers, and it was Kelly who challenged Schenn to that duel after a huge, clean hit on Stephen Kampfer.
That's just the question: Should a player have to fight after delivering a clean hit?
Asked after the game if he thought a fight was warranted in that situation, Schenn said he understands why he was challenged.
"I think if I were in his shoes and I saw somebody else hit one of my teammates like that, I guess it's just part of hockey," Schenn said. "You have to step up for your teammates and he did that. I don't mind fighting in a situation like that because I'd probably do the same thing."
This happens 10 times a week in the NHL, but it feels silly every single time.
We understand the need for a fight after a dirty hit. You broke the rules, and you put a player in jeopardy with a dangerous violation. You deserve to get punched in the face for that. Being challenged after a clean hit is almost akin to being challenged for scoring a goal or making a nice pass, though. You're just playing the game, and you're not breaking any rules, even if you might be pissing off your opponent in the process.
This is something that should be solved by the instigator rule -- which oddly wasn't called on Kelly in this situation, even though it should have been. It worked out in Philadelphia's favor regardless considering Kelly was given a minor for unsportsmanlike, but an instigator would have been a much tougher price to pay for retaliation on a clean hit.
It doesn't really matter considering Schenn obliged, but had he ignored Kelly's challenge, it would have been a much more interesting situation. After delivering a monster of a clean hit, should Schenn have just skated away?
0 comments
