he's being suspended for an attempt at kicking a guy in the face.
He did NOT TRY to kick anyone IN THE FACE.
Wisent said:
And surely it is not ridicolous that such a thing gets called. It would be ridiculous not to call it. It is a game and it should stay one. Safety goes first
WHEN (IF) someone tries to kick someone else in the face the suspension should be way longer than one game.
resolute said:
Embarassing for the IIHF is that there was no bylaw in place to punish Ruutu for his charge on Jagr.
Embarassing for hockey is Malkin's actions. As has been mentioned many, many times now, kicking a player is one of the most dangerous things a player can do. Whatever his intent, Malkin attempted to kick Lecavalier. A match penalty is the only possible penalty that can be awarded, and that is completely fair to Malkin, to Havlat, and to everyone who plays the game.
Malkin tried to kick Lecavalier. A one game suspension is more than fair, and should serve as a reminder to Malkin that stupid actions have consequences.
Gimme a break. The two guys were just trying to come off each other, Lecavalier giving a deserved (yet stupid, cause gave him a roughing minor) punch and as a body reaction, Malkin raising his leg to send Vinny away.. no attempt to kick him in the face, the skate never came close to Vinny face (basically it’s the shin-guard against the chest, with the foot more distant from the head than the shin-guard already), let alone the blade, blade that Malkin knows to be placed, unsurprisingly, on the other side of his foot.
I can understand the referee, without analyzing the situation on the replay, could get it that way, but no reasons for the suspension after re-watching on TV..(unless staying consistent with the undeserved match penalty called live by the referee..)