It's impossible he crosschecked a player camped in front of the goal while watching the puck.
There's video and everything. You can actually watch the play and see where Staal is looking.
If he was trying some surgical strike to some amazing weak spot, wouldn't he watch what he was doing? You know, to make sure his nefarious plan was carried out.
Honest question.
Have you ever played the game?
A guy is RIGHT in front of you and your eyes are fixated on something else, do you stop seeing what is directly in front of you?
Peripheral vision alone would more than explain the ability to cross check a guy in the head while looking past him.
the play was in front of Staal and Sid. not to the side where Staal had to turn his head.
The moment it happened I thought Staal was wrong for doing it considering his own history.
Don't make excuses for Staal. He knew exactly what he was doing there.
And I don't have a problem with it myself.
Teams should be targeting other teams and players weaknesses.
For instance, MA Fleury doesn't do well with traffic in front of him. We should be crowding him every chance we get.
The only problem I have with targeting Sid's head is that it is a penalty to do so. Other wise, I'd smack him in the head every chance I got.