The St. Louis Blues won game five of the Stanley Cup Final, but might lose a forward in the process. The Department of Player Safety has announced that Ivan Barbashev will have a hearing regarding an illegal check to the head of Boston Bruins forward Marcus Johansson.
Barbashev came at Johansson as he was trying to take a shot and made clear high contact, spinning the Boston player into the ice. There was no penalty on the play, but fans were immediately up in arms about the hit that seemed to snap Johansson’s head backwards. That sight is not a good one for a player that has dealt with concussion issues in the past, including one caused by Brad Marchand, now a teammate.
The Blues have been increasing the physicality of the series in each game, and there were several other incidents in last night’s affair that could have been considered by the league. Boston, who often find themselves playing the aggressor, will have to overcome this latest challenge and win on the road if they want to have a chance in the series. They’ll at least be able to avoid Barbashev, as the play will likely cause a suspension of at least one game.
Might as well play dirty if Bruins don’t make you pay on the PP and the Refs let 90% go uncalled.
Clear penalty here and on the Accari leg trip leading to game winner..
So play the way the Bruins have generally played this playoffs? Sounds about right.
It wasn’t a hand pass that led to the end of a game. You’ll get over it.
Wow. No difference in that hit and the one that laid out Steen a few minutes earlier at center ice. No penalty called there, but also no one crying like Boston is about this play.
Boo hoo!! We’re losing so we better start crying just like our head coach, the excuse maker.
I am not a fan of either team. I think it is funny that Bruins fans are belly-aching about all these “non-calls.” If you would actually look at every play objectively, the Bruins are also committing a ton of penalties that the refs are “looking the other way on.” Hard to get upset about the officiating being “one-sided” if you see all the stuff that the Bruins are getting away with.
And too funny about being concerned about player safety – when Marchand commits a somewhat dirty play seemingly every game.
Look – the officiating in these entire playoffs has been awful. It hasn’t been consistent. Lots of non-calls vs what would be called during the regular season. But that is how it usually goes. The refs allow more “play” in the playoffs. If the refs would only be consistent, that would make it more watchable / enjoyable.
Do you mean the one that laid out Pietrangelo at center ice or the one Krug laid on Steen in the first. Both were hits facing the player and shoulder to shoulder. Bozak’s slewfooting against Acciari was pathetic and the main difference is it was from behind leading to Acciari getting knocked off his feet, landing on his back and hitting his head off the ice. Even Bozak expected to be called for it. I don’t care who wins but it’s not fun watching one team get away with blatant cheap shots like St Louis has been. It’s a physical series but the just like the Vegas/San Jose series, the officials are making some horrendous calls.
blues fly all over the ice with cheap shots – if not they get blown out
Have you watched any of the Bruins’ other series or virtually every other Marchand shift? We already know Kadri wound up doing something stupid that game because the refs put their whistles away. It’s fun to watch Bruins fans now complain.
Boston just brought Tuomo Ruutu in for next game , lol, come on Blues let’s get this over Sunday night am ready for Draft, Free Agency , who signs who , who gets paid , who gets bought out , who gets traded, let’s get the ball rolling soon as Blues raise the Cup.
Lets get on with the draft , free agency, signings, buy outs, trades, soon as Blues raise the Cup on Sunday.
If bruins would have played to the whistle on that play rather just just standing around that deflection of a deflection of a shot wouldn’t have gone thru Rask’s five hole.
Gave 5 was all St Louis from start to finish. They were the better team with the jump. You got to blame Cassidy for both of those. He’s getting beat by an intern head coach and a team of misfits.
Watch the whole NHL,all Teams have their Moments :Top two Dirtiest Teams Are:1.Vegas 2.Boston,Live by the Sword die by the Sword.Not a Fan but STL plays the same the whole year,very hard but Generally not Dirty,welcome to Western Play Boston,it’s tough every Night!
This butt his clearly hurt.
The refs have been so inconsistent. The Bruins had too many men on the ice once maybe twice and no penalty was called. Theres been alot of cheap shots and non calls for both teams. To say it’s been one sided is rediculous. Also one of Boston’s players leveled our goalie,untouched, stick to head, in the last 70 seconds and that’s fine? Boston’s fans do not see both ends of the spectrum
Make the calls consistently for both teams. That is all.