#NHL BIAS

-The Dip

Today the long awaited suspension for Shawn Thornton's behavior against the Penguins last Saturday came in.  15 games for Shawn.  15 games for a player that has never been fined nor suspended, heck Shawn has never received a match penalty in a game, but the league will take over $86k from him this week.

---

---

In case you missed the entire story I will get you up to speed.  In this game 2 Bruins were attacked!  James Neal intentionally kneed Marchand in the head while he was on his knees on the ice and was penalized for it during the game, Neal received a five game suspension from the league.   Neal has been fined and suspended before, he has a history dirty hits especially to the head.  On this one play he clearly tried to injure Marchand.  After the game when asked about he flat out lied about his intent and showed no remorse.  If Marchand had a glass chin like Orpik how many games would Neal serve? 
Neal got 5 games for INTENTIONALLY trying to injure someone!

The other attack came by the hands of Orpik.  Louis Erikson was harpooned in the head, Orpik left his feet, which is an automatic penalty, and plastered a defenseless Erikson, knocking him out and sending him to the IR.  This was at the least interference because Louis did not have the puck and at the second least was a penalty for charging, leaving your feet to check someone.  This was not called a penalty during the game and no suspension has been given to Orpik either.  so was this a clean play by Orpik?  Breaking two rules and injuring a player?  Well, Shawn Thornton didn't think so.  
Thornton challenged Orpik to fight, to own up to what he had done, Orpik refused.  Believe me it was not because Thornton didn't try hard enough to make him fight, Orpik just backed down.  Eventually Thornton caught up to him, pulled him down from behind and and gave him 2 quick shots to the melon.  Any player would have shrugged those shots off, but not a Penguin he laid there until they brought out the stretcher, figuring it would be an easy way to get a couple of days off.  That's not the best part,  Orpik just hours after the suspension was handed down was miraculously, medically cleared to play.  No, no he was really hurt.  

The Penguins are sneaky and dirty and the NHL loves them.  

Just try to wrap your mind around this.  If a player who has a history of fines and suspensions intentionally tries to hurt another player that is a 5 game suspension.  If a player who has never had even a match penalty called against them stands up for his teammate it's a 15 game suspension.
Oh and by the way the Bruins took over FIRST place from those Penguins last Saturday and haven't looked back.  Suck it Shanahan and the NHL!