Lemieux: NHL's response to Isles-Pens a failure

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Sunday, February 13, 2011
Posted: 3:19 p.m.
By Tim PanaccioCSNPhilly.com

You seldom hear from Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux.

Yet the legendary center stunned the hockey world Sunday afternoon, blasting the league over Fridays debacle between his club and the New York Islanders.

Lemieuxs angst was over the incident between the Isles Trevor Gillies and Penguin Eric Tangradi.

Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be, Lemieux said in a statement. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasnt hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.

We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.

If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.

Gillies elbowed Tangradi to the head, leaving the Pens forward concussed, then punched him, and finally, stood over his fallen body and taunted him. He received a nine-game suspension while the Isles were fined 100,000.

The problem here is: when Lemieux speaks of the safety of our players, it begins at home. In this case, that would be Matt Cooke, who has been a notorious head hunter in the NHL, leaving players concussed in his wake.

If the Penguins want respect for their own players, then Lemieux needs to address how little respect Cooke shows others in the league.

Thats not to make excuses for the actions of Gillies or either team that night.

Rather, its to say, respect and player safety is a two-way street traveled by more clubs than just Pittsburgh.
Related: Panaccios Flyers Week in Review: Feb. 7-13Buy Flyers gear E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

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