alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />The Kings lost Wayne Simmonds for, essentially, an entire period last night after Simmonds went after Mark Stuart for Stuart’s hit on Anze Kopitar in the second period. Simmonds got 19 minutes’ worth of penalties, made worse by the fact that Simmonds got an extra penalty for wearing a face shield (Simmonds said Stuart cut his hand on Simmonds’ shield).
But even though Simmonds had to sit and watch for 19 minutes, during a time when the game almost got away from the Kings, Terry Murray said he had no regrets about Simmonds’ actions in defending a teammates.
MURRAY: “Absolutely. That’s exactly it. I didn’t like the pass that came up to Kopi, but that’s the culture that you have to have on your hockey club. We’ve talked about that many times, through last year, and the right stuff that’s been done several different times. This is the right call on his part. I know there’s an instigator rule, because of the shield, and that makes it a little harder, but there’s no question that I liked the response.”
Murray was clear in saying that he thought Stuart’s hit was clean, but said that didn’t matter in terms of coming to a teammate’s defense…
MURRAY: “They’re hitting one of your best players. It’s an impact hit. It’s a hit that could injure a player. But overall, with the hit, there was nothing wrong with it. But we’ve got to make sure we’re doing the right things for our players.”
Good job Simmer. Its exactly the response the Kings need to a big hit on a top-line player.
If I recall correctly, wasn’t TM the person who criticized the ease at which teammates (on any team) retaliate after a good, clean hit? Anyone else remember this? Don’t get me wrong, I liked the response by Simmer, but I don’t understand how TM thinks its ok for our guys to do it and not other teams.
Its about time we stand up for everyone this makes us a better team I just wish stuart was hit latter in the game again
go kings
Simmer did the right thing, I only wish that Odie, Green or RI had been on the ice at the time.
That check and Wayne’s response were like “old time hockey”. I almost cried.
I love this kid!
Simmer did the right thing, but what i don’t understand he got 10 min mis.. 5 fighting. 4 min instigator..? why 4 mins. i thought it was only 2 mins for instigator..?
RI doesn’t know how to fight, he’s a deadbeat on the ice..
OK, so I have a question? What does the shield mean? “I know there’s an instigator rule because of the shield”.. Anyone care to explain please?
wavesinair, there does seem to be a contradiction there. In Murray’s defense, Simmond’s response to a hit — albeit clean — on the team’s top player would have occurred in any era of post-expansion hockey. I’m guessing that Murray’s other statement relates more to the slew of scrums when any Tom, Dick, or Harry gets clocked with a clean hit.
Am I stretching things a bit here? Perhaps, but there it is.
Mean Machine, he got an extra two for Unsportsmanlike Conduct for starting a fight while wearing a face shield.
Mean Machine, 2 for instigating and 2 for intigating while wearing a shield.
wavesinair, could be but who cares. I’m just glad we have a coach who knows the value of his team standing up for each other, instead of an Andy Murray who didn’t so as to get more power-play time. I think TM’s point is there’s a time to do it and there’s a time not to do it…
peace!
The shield I believe it’s eye/face shield they are referring to.
My understanding is that it’s 2 for instigating at all, but another 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct if you instigate and also wear a face shield.
I’m with Coach Murray on one thing in particular, nothing to do with Wayne Simmonds–I don’t recall which Kings made the pass up to Kopitar than hung Anze out to dry, but that’s the guy Simmonds should have been fighting. :-)
“I’m guessing that Murray’s other statement relates more to the slew of scrums when any Tom, Dick, or Harry gets clocked with a clean hit.”
That’s what I was thinking too. But it would be nice to get clarification there on his philosophy considering his prior statements.
…and I guess that means I am, indeed, remembering correctly then?
AK,
they believe the shield gives an unfair advantage in a fight, so if you’re the instigator with a shield against someone without one you get an extra two…
AK47
Im pretty sure the shield is the piece of glass on the player’s helmets for protection.
I wish Simmer stopped using the shield. He has to take it off if he is going to continue to fight. The easiest thing he can do is take of his helmet before he gets into a fight. But it would be better if he just took it off completely.
@roadtripper: “could be but who cares.”
LOL, well, I do. :)
Point taken though…time to do it, time not to. I’m interested in when those times are… just particular stars being hit? How hard it is? Etc. Just interested, that’s all.
kopi11,
re: wearing a shield… I’m sure you know Simmonds usually takes his helmet off before a fight. This could be for several reasons… It could actually hinder HIM during a fight. Or he may just be sending a quick “mano y mano” message to his opponent. Or maybe he just wants to be sure that he isn’t gonna get the instigator. Or maybe he likes a fair fight against a guy who isn’t wearing a shield. Or……….
BUT wearing a shield in the NHL for a guy who gets in there with his rough and tumble style could be the slight difference that allows him to play such a style to the extent that he does. We don’t need some freak accident to discourage him from getting in there…
I just wish ALL players with shields did like Wayne does in a fight against an opponent without one, and remove it. I hate seeing some of these whiners hide behind the thing!!! But I completely understand them wearing one for the sake of safety.
peace!
I would choose Wayne Simmonds eyesight (protecting your eyes is why you wear that half-shield on your helmet) over any other consideration and deal with the extra two minutes of PK when it’s necessary.
wavesinair,
;)
Obviously I know what a shield is, but I didn’t understand why it made a difference, but thanks
I’m guessing better in your opinion kopi11 over Wayne’s as I assume Wayne wants to continue to protect his eyes and I don’t blame him a bit.
The rule is weird to me. I mean I understand as they don’t want guys with shields having an unfair advantage, but give me a break.
Either way it was the right move by Wayne and the hit was clean on Anze, but you still want your guys standing up for each other especially your best players. The weird thing also to me is Wayne did skate up to him and start talking as he grabbed him but the other guy dropped the gloves first.
I like that he wears a shield and in a league where they say they’re for protecting players, penalizing a guy for wearing one in any situation is stupid.
That said I like the standing up for his guy and I hope Kopi gave someone a slap in the locker room for giving him that “set me up to get killed pass” that Marty McSorley was famous for in the 90’s.
AK
Its also called the “Claude Lemieux Rule”. A face shielded player can not attack a non-shielded player.
Lemieux wore a face shield and made it a point to attack players with out the same protection.
The Instigator rule is by far the stupidest rule in any sport. Every coach hates it & most players hate it. Just another Gary Betman idea from a non-hockey person. This type of rule is perfect for guys like Claude Lemieux, who run around like an idiot and there is nothing anyone can do without taking an extra penalty. It’s no wonder there are more and more cheap shots to the head. If there is no price to pay, hey why not? Better yet put in a rule that states if you wear eye protection then you can’t stand up for a player on your team. Why not just say you can’t wear shields period, that would be just as foolish. Please get rid of the Instigator rule.
simmonds is just doing what he knows is part of his role on that line. he can hang with almost anyone in the league.
but it was a clean hit, stuart caught kopi with his head down.
way to go simmer!!!! kopi stepped up after he fully recovered from that hit. way to go boys!!! make it a 5-0 trip!!
GO KINGS GO!!!
Pitty,
Lemieux was somewhat more then a idiot, having been instrumental in helping bring cups to the Devils and Avs. He had a slew of goals in numerous finals.
He was just somewhere beyond “edgy” at the same time. If he could get away with something he did it.
The instigator idea only stopped spontaneous fighting, making what remains seem silly–arranged fights on face-offs that serve no purpose, etc.
I love this kid!!!!!!!!