The hits from behind were very frustrating, but more frustrating was listening to Boucher completely absolve the Rangers from any blame on plays were they executed an illegal hit.
And the high stick was reviewable. Because Raymond ended up cut, it was announced as a double minor for high sticking and double minors are reviewable. The officiating actually got that play right, though again Boucher made a jackass out of himself for insisting that Raymond would intentionally hit himself in the face with an opponent's stick while in possession of the puck... as if Raymond's goal is to cut himself open instead of, I don't know, try to beat his defender and generate offense
i'm still iffy on that call but not going to argue crazy about it.
Just think about it in physics glasses. The way he was trying to throw the stick was not up. It was more back towards the player or out. I still think the player had control of the stick, felt raymond grab it and try to snatch it back by flicking it up.
Best way I know how to describe the motion: It's like when you are being stick checked from behind. Some players just keep their stick down with more force so the stick check doesn't matter as much. Others (kind of like D and Z) would use their body or leg to block it from hindering their shot. But some keep flicking their stick up to try to avoid the stick check everytime the other player is trying to hit their stick. Like on a breakaway, someone keeps hitting your stick from behind so you move your arm upwards as a kind of SONK situation.
Tried to find a video on it but can't really find one for something like this. Either way, Raymond's hand was on his stick so I don't fault the refs for going the way they did, I just don't think it is as cut and dry and I understand why Lalonde was upset about it. No one (especially respectable players like raymond) just grab a stick and hit themselves with it even by accident. Thats an Avery or Marchand move.
