I am probably going to get some hate for this, but I slightly agree with the people critiquing Backes. I think they are blowing it way out of proportion, but Backes was in the wrong. Let me reiterate that I m a huge Blues fan and a Backes fan. I am just willing to say when my team or players I like make mistakes. The whole situation could have been handled better by a variety of people.
The Bordeleau hit on Shattenkirk was BS. He could have been called for boarding, roughing, charging or elbowing. The refs blew it by missing the call. They further blew it by not letting Jackman settle the score right then. Bordeleau chickened out by avoiding a fight with either Ott, Lapierre or Jackman on later plays. That was gutless. If he had faced the music, MacKinnon would have never been in danger. If Blues could have settled the score with Bordeleau, then rest never would have happened.
Now for Backes. He did show some restraint, but it reminded me a little bit of the abhorant Emery/Holtby incident. A grizzled vet on a team that is getting stomped and playing uninspired takes out his frustrations on a younger player who wants no part of the fight. Tonight was no where near as bad, but that is only a measure of degree not the situation itself. Backes was gunning for MacKinnon. Backes hit him first, and it was a couple paces after MacKinnon got rid of the puck. He came in off balance to hurry up and avoid an interference for hitting him late.. MacKinnon pushed him down on a reverse check, perfectly acceptable to protect himself from the hit. Backes used it as an excuse to fight him. Backes took him down immediately and hit him with short shots on the ground. Backes wouldn't let the refs break it up either. He kept giving him short elbows while the ref was trying to pull him away.
What did MacKinnon do to deserve that? He had a really good game and made the Blues look bad. Fighting is part of hockey, It is a rightfully used as a punitive measure. But it is a punitive measure against dirty or physical play. It is a part of hockey for players who want to fight or break the unwritten rules. Legally check a star all you want, and hit him within the bounds of the rules. However, it is wrong to take him to the ground and elbow him repeatedly for beating your team on the ice. This was purely a case of "If we can't beat them on the ice, we'll beat them on the ice."
Backes could have done a lot worse. The Avs deserved some retribution for the Bordeleau hit. But Bordeleau deserved it, not MacKinnon. Backes is too much of a hot head. I love the fire at times. I hate the stupid penalties and fighting out of frustration when the Blues are losing. That was what this was.
