NHL fines Lombardi $50K for outburst

refyousuck.com admin comment:
I think just about any sports fan could tell you the same thing on this "good goal". Even an honest Coyotes fan would take this one back if they could. The picture says it all folks, The stick obviously makes contact with the puck above the crossbar. The NHL should be explaining how their review team in Toronto could miss this on the replay. Instead they are fining LA Kings GM $50K for his comments.
That's how it goes in Gary Bettman's NHL. Don't worry, more bad calls to come.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

(with sportsnet.ca files)

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi was fined $50,000 by the NHL on Friday for his comments about league vice-president Mike Murphy.

Upset that a disputed goal was allowed to stand in a 2-0 loss to Phoenix on Thursday, Lombardi told a reporter who works for the team's website that Murphy wouldn't give the Kings a favourable call because he once lost out on the GM job in Los Angeles.

That earned Lombardi both a hefty fine, plus a sharp rebuke from commissioner Gary Bettman.

"There is no acceptable explanation or excuse for commentary challenging the integrity of the league's hockey operations department in general or Mike Murphy, in particular," Bettman said in a release.

"People can disagree with a call by an official on the ice or an official in the situation room in Toronto, but even in instances of the utmost frustration there is no justification for speaking as inappropriately and irresponsibly as Mr. Lombardi did."

The Kings GM accepted full responsibility for his actions, phoning Murphy on Friday to offer a personal apology.

"I spoke to the commissioner today and he made it very clear to me that my actions last night were inappropriate and detrimental to the game," Lombardi said in a statement. "There is no question that his assessment is correct and the punishment fits the crime. Just as important, I apologized to Mike Murphy this morning and I sincerely appreciate his willingness to accept my apology.

"Like the team must learn from its mistakes, the GM has to learn from his mistakes as well."

Murphy played for the Kings during his NHL career and is a former coach of the team. He is currently in charge of goal reviews for the league.

"Mike Murphy is a devoted caretaker of the game," said Bettman. "His commitment to the National Hockey League, all 30 of its clubs -- and to the game -- is beyond challenge, question or debate.

read entire article here

Sean O'Donnell discusses suspension (NHL)

Somehow I missed this story? I've always liked O'Donnell- classy player.

see video here

O'Donnell discusses suspension

By Rich Hammond on September 24, 2009 2:48 PM


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After practice today, Sean O'Donnell discussed, in detail, the
incident in Kansas City with the Islanders' Matt Martin that led to
O'Donnell's suspension (three preseason games, two regular-season
games). O'Donnell explains his side of the incident, and what led up to
it...

O'DONNELL: ....That's the main thing, the leading up to it. You look
at an isolated play and it doesn't look good, but when you're watching
the game... They had talked us about ..head shots.' Not even necessarily
elbows, but just shots, unnecessary blows to the head when the guy is
vulnerable. I felt like there were a couple times earlier in the game
where they had some guys, who were trying to make a name -- whatever,
they're trying to make the team -- but I felt like Drew and some of our
other players had targets on their backs. They were hitting them pretty
hard. They were legal, but they were hard, hard hits.

....Nothing was really said. A couple times, I spoke to one of the
guys and challenged him to a fight. Raitis challenged a guy and
obviously Westgarth was doing his best. (The Islanders) didn't really
want to. Then I saw Martin hit a couple people. Like I said, not dirty
but questionable, enough to raise your eyebrows. Then I saw him coming
on Drew and I yelled over, ..Heads up.' Drew got out of the way, but I
felt that at the last second, instead of just missing his check, he
came up with his shoulder and clipped Drew in the chin. I saw Drew's
head go back and so I went over there.

....I probably should have given him a little slash on the ankles and
then fought him, but I didn't. I reacted. There's a part of me that
feels kind of paternal toward Drew. Maybe I overreacted a little bit,
but I went over there and I wanted to initiate a fight. I gave him a
cross-check, and in my mind I gave him a cross-check right by the
shoulder, in the upper chest. I skated quite a ways. I skated probably
15, 20 feet. When I did hit him with the cross-check, my momentum
carried him over and that's what knocked him over and he crumpled down
to the ice. You can see where I hit him, and where he ended up was
about 10 feet away. So it was more like, I hit him and we kind of slid.

....There was no film. I felt that, at no time, did my stick make
contact with any part of his head area. The refs felt that when I hit
him, it (came up) and I got him. There's no tape. The refs felt it was
one way and I felt it was the other way.''

Helene Elliott of the Times relayed Dean Lombardi's reaction to
O'Donnell, in which Lombardi expressed disappointment that O'Donnell
would lose two games' worth of salary and jokingly hinted that he
wished he could pay O'Donnell to be a scout in those games.

....How about an extension for a year?'' O'Donnell said with a laugh. ....I'm not ready to start scouting yet.''