Neil's hit on Drury legal but nasty

Pierre,
By the way, the big turtling incident I was refering to was in the playoffs last year, and they were playing the Tampa Bay Lightning, not the leafs, there are a few so I can understand how you would get confused.

Hey Chris

Could not agree with you more about HNC constant blabbering about the Leafs, however if you tuned in last night to Sportsnet when Dean Brown and his sidekicks are doing the game, they might as well called it Sensnet.
They have to be the biggest Sens homers ever, just horrible to listen to, I almost forgot it was the Pens they were losing to. The only difference I see is that they have some good one liners, and they can remember the players names.

My Dear Pierre,
My god you sens fans are thick...and completely obsessed with the leafs, if you took the time to read all the posts you would see that I am not a leafs fan at all, I cannot stand them, nor to I like Tucker. I just dislike the Sens more, and posts like yours is exactly why. You just don't get it..that is why your team never wins anything and chokes in the playoffs every year and you all are so shocked and surprised. They choked last night, and the Pens will kick there sorry overrated asses, and I cannot wait.
As far as Neil is concerned, you need to watch what happened with some reality, he started the fight!!!! and then when his challange was accepted, he then turtled, using the excuse that he was drawing a penalty to help his team, a team that was leading the game by at least two goals. You sens fans are so funny!

Please Ron and Don send the message of a real hockey fan. You 2 are the only one's left too fight for our kind. I want the pre lock out era game back, please try and help.You know the game is lacking too much passion and balls!!!! PLEASE HELP THIS REAL HOCKEY FAN!!!!

Mavid, if Neil is a coward what about your dear Tucker? Going around hitting skilled players and then running away from fights (oh, except when he's face to face with a 170 pound Patrick Eaves who's never fought before). At least Neil fights with the big boys (and he took the fight right after he hit Drury). And the turtling incident, if you care to look at it again (which I'm sure you don't since your Leafs lost the game), Neil didn't have the time to drop his gloves before the Leafs player got on top of him. Neil, a coward? You are grossly mistaken, I'm sure he'd drop the gloves against anyone... he's just not stupid enough to get mindless penalties!

Don...love your show...Chris Neil is a GOON just like Jansen, McGratton, and the rest of the boys...I agree with the no touch icing....why can't they sort that out rather than whining about fighting?????

Coaches Corner & Hockey Night in Canada have become too Toronto centric. Case in point, last year's playoffs; the Leafs were out of the playoffs and Montreal was playing awesome hockey against Carolina. In between periods, the discussions always started with the Leafs. As history repeats itself (i.e., Montreal being in the post-season and the Leafs taking notes), a lot more analysis and commentary on the other teams would make HNIC a little more compelling to all Canadians. At least try to hide the bias.

merci
Jean Guy

At a recent Flames game some fans didn't stand while the national anthem was being played. The following day Bruce Kenyon mentioned it on his radio show and I was dismayed when he read email from some lowlife who said he didn't agree with the way the government was running Canada and he wouldn't stand while they represented him. Does he not realize that his right to be disgruntled is directly related to Canada and Canadian soldiers (heros) who defended his rights in 2 world wars and a miriad of other wars and peace-keeping endeavors? Some times I wonder whether anyone remembers or respects the sacrifices our soldiers make? Maybe if you don't like the representation you have you ought to do something about it - join the army or run for office, but do not disrespect our men and women (past or present) in uniform with your unpatriotic behavior!!!

Why did his helmet come off?? that is the reason why he got a concussion.

Don Cherry is right, people are busy trying to get fighting out of hockey and all that, but those boarding accidents should be a bigger issue.

I just heard Ron and Don talk about defibulators and saw the game delay. I have recently taken a short course re AED. People will have to be trained. I was told that here when a defibulator is pulled off the wall a signal goes to ambulance dispatch automatically. I, personally, was defibrilated 7 years ago and am back in "excuse me" hockey once a week.John Shaw

The hit on Drury was cheap, but at least the Sabres responded. What were the Senators doing while Peters was pounding Emery. Great example why the Senators can't and won't win in the playoffs.

Stats are facts Mavid. You have proved that you only have an opinion, wow!! Again you can't back it up. Hockey is a team sport, so why would someone give the other team any chance at a momentum swing by fighting someone in a playoff game when they are leading by two or three goals. That makes him a smart player Mavid, and anyone who has played or understands the sport of hockey knows this. Once again you have proved to be just a mouthpiece with no knowledge at all!! Congrats champ!!!

If head shots are ALL dirty, then should Brian Campbell have been suspended for his(clean in my opinion) check on R.J. Umberger. Should Peter Schaefer have missed games for his hit against Tim Connoly? Nobody was complaining about those checks( Connoly is still out with concussion symptoms). Everyone is up in arms because of the result (blood) of the check. It sucks that a skilled player (Drury) missed time, but he is back now, and no worse for wear. All these people who think Neil should be suspended should feel the same way about Campbell and Schaefer.All three checks were head shots, so I guess they are all dirty. Oh and Mavid, who do you cheer for?

Corey,you are the only one challenging me, and frankly I don't need to impress you, nor do I care to. I gave you an example of Chris Neil being a coward, which you chose to ignore. Everyone knows about his big turtling act last year in the playoff's. Sure the homer fans said it was to draw a penalty, but the Sens were leading by two or three goals, and of course this was just an excuse to cover up what he really is.
10 goals, 150 mip is a nice stat, but as far as tough,and skilled this is only your opinion as well. I don't care if you think living in Ottawa and critizing the Sens is wrong, frankly if it was not for the fans of other teams, Scotiabank place would never sell out any games. Not sure how you know that the negative posts are Leaf fans, but then that is the typical Sens fan's response. It's you that will be crying come playoff time.

Dear Jawbreaker, I think you are confused. Please read down below at all my posts. I am not a Sens fan at all. I do think the hit was dirty, and so is Chris Neil. A poster by the name of Corey has called me out on my posts and I am just defending my position. Please read more carefully beleive me, I am looking foward to the Sens annual chokefest with delight.

I don't think I was insulting you Mavid. I just pointed out that your post was pure opinion, without any fact's to back it up. If you are insulted, so be it! I have read most of the post's from other readers. Most of the negative comments about Neil are being made by Buffalo fans( can't blame them ) or leaf fans who don't like Neil or the sens for that matter. I hate the Leafs, and any chance I get to pile on them, I will. For someone who lives in our city to post negative comments about our players or team , I think is wrong. If your post's had any factual merrit, I wouldn't be writting this post would I. So in the future, have something to back up your post's or be prepared to be challenged without crying about it. As far as Neil being just a goon, can you name another player in the league who combines toughness with skill, who has more than 10 goals and 150 PIMS? Come on Mavid, impress me with your vast hockey knowledge.

Yes, Mavid. You are a typical Sens fan with blind allegiance.
A head shot -late or not- is always a dirty hit unless the head is down. Defend it all you like but you are wrong and would not be singing the same tune if Heatly got knocked out by some punk ass clown. It will happen sometime and we'll see your reaction.
As an end result the Sabres were unified by the incident. Sens were shaken up.
What matters is the Sens will fold in the playoffs as always. They are a bunch of lily-livered pansies who have to deal with the fallout of a cheap shot artist and a hypocritical coach. Great winning combo there.

Corey, insulting me does not change anything about Chris Neil and the type of player he is. If you took the time to read all the other posts instead of wasting time trying to make me look dumb, then you would see many other people are of this opinion. so I guess they must all be uniformed too.
Such a typical Sen's fan...eh!

Ofcourse, if you are from Buffalo, you will be supporting The Sabres, and vice versa. I personally think that the hit was unnecessary and dumb. It was a late hit. That doesn't make it dirty but it makes it stupid when it could have been avoided.

Actually Mavid , you are wrong. Your opinion is that Neil is dirty, but you have no facts to back it up(ie: suspensions, another incident). So save us your uninformed opinion's and back it up with some actual hockey knowledge!! For some reason, I think that might be difficult eh!

Wrong again! Just because someone does not get suspended does not mean they are not dirty, just that they have not been caught. You need to look no further than who he picks fights with, and as far as gutless, again look no further than his big turtling act last season.
Nobody with any hockey sense wants Chris Niel, so dream on, wanna be goons are a dime a dozen.

I have to laugh at all the people calling Chris Neil cheap, gutless or a coward. You propably can't name one other incident where Neil was suspended for a dirty play. Everyone wishes they had a Neil on their team. He plays hard and finishes his checks every night. Keep playing hard Neiler!!!

For all those biased Sens fans that blame Drury for the dirty Neal hit...
That's like blaming a mob hit on the guy who was unfortunate enough to sit with his back to the door. Oh, he never should have sat there it's his own fault.
Hockey players can carry a grudge for years and Neal will get what is coming to him...someday.

The Sens coach put out your so called star players when he knew that Buffalo would be looking for payback. Their own stupid mistake. Should the Buffalo players skated over to the bench, where the tougher (laugh) players were, and fight them there?
The opionins express about Chris Neil are based on his history as a turtling coward, who only picks on smaller players, and of course watching the video of the hit with some objectivity, which clearly most Sens fans do not have. Really anyone with half a brain saw that Drury did not have is head down at all, it was played and replayed on all the sports shows and clearly his head was up.

Also, to Kyle...Neil started fights during the secoond because Buffalo targeted OUR star players. If Buffalo had a right to be angry so did we. And in case you were misinformed Newil had buisness with Peters because of a comment he made to Heatley. Poor taste comment about Snyder, if a legal hit deserves retribution, a comment like that sure as hell does.

The hit to Kaberle was completely illegal and unfortunate, and as a Sens fan I'm really disapointed Kaberle is out. He's a great player, and they need him down the stretch. BUT comparing this hit to the Neil Drury hit is absolutely ridiculous as far as I and anyone with half a brian who has watched the hit closely is concerned. YES the elbow FOLLOWS THROUGH, thats a natural occurence in a hit, it does not mean the elbow hit Drury thats why it's called a FOLLOW THROUGH. YES Drury was hit in the head with Neils shoulder...again, the height difference between them only being a few inches means Drury had his head down. Maybe he shouldn't have fallen asleep while the puck was not on his stick but still considered in his possession. It was a legal hit, an unfortunate legal hit. No one likes to see any player, whether their on your team or not, go down like that. But the hit wasn't dirty, Neil isn't a dirty player. The hit on Kaberle however was disgusting and I hope Janessen has had some sleepless nights.

why didn't any senators go after peters for going after emery? because one, no senator on bench at the time was good enough to fight peters and two even if mcgratten was on the bench or the ice at the time, he wouldn't go after peters because he out of all people know emery can handle himself.

Jonathan not everyone who post's anti Neil, or Sens posts are Leaf fans. If its one thing that most other fans of teams can agree on is that Neil is a dirty wanna be, and the Sens fans are a little to arrogant for a team that has not actually won anything.

Don it's like you say we need to get back to the way it was.We need to have the "policeman" back.Nobody would cheap shot the stars and it kept everybody honest.As you recall Dave Semenko was the policeman here in Brandon years ago and he did a fine job in Edmonton might I say.It's like you say they are the most popular guys in their respective city.They may be decent hockey players but their main job is to maintain law and order on the ice.They sometimes get a point or two.Don keep up the good work.

Players drop their gloves to fight so why not their helmets as well. The enforcers eyes are as valuable as any other player. I have seen on several games where players have done this and I hope it becomes the norm. I understand your stand on fighters wearing visors and leaving them on. Also there wouldn't be as many bashed knuckles.

Well it seems that everyone on here is biased toward his/her own team, whether they're a Buffalo fan or an Ottawa fan. Obviously I love my Sabres and our best player, Chris Drury, so I'm going to say how much I hate that hit. All I know is if Neil hit Sidney Crosby the league would be up in arms and Neil would have been suspended for God knows how long.

Drury will be back next week and we can carry on. However this time, we'll have more passionate fans, and a more passionate and more tightly knit locker room. Perhaps this was good for both teams. Headlines like this are great for the sport. Hey, at least it's got people talking about our beloved hockey!

I just hope this doesn't turn into NASCAR where people will only watch our sport for the fights and to see people being taken off on stretchers.

Well it seems that everyone on here is biased toward his/her own team, whether they're a Buffalo fan or an Ottawa fan. Obviously I love my Sabres and our best player, Chris Drury, so I'm going to say how much I hate that hit. All I know is if Neil hit Sidney Crosby the league would be up in arms and Neil would have been suspended for God knows how long.

Drury will be back next week and we can carry on. However this time, we'll have more passionate fans, and a more passionate and more tightly knit locker room. Perhaps this was good for both teams. Headlines like this are great for the sport. Hey, at least it's got people talking about our beloved hockey!

I just hope this doesn't turn into NASCAR where people will only watch our sport for the fights and to see people being taken off on stretchers.

You notice how the leaders Don Cherry was talkin about tonight...leaders in scoring, ex...crosby, lecaliver, ....and most of them came from the QMJHL...and how the Canadian Jr. team has very few Q players...why is that??? GIVER DON!!!!!!! MONCTON WILDCATS Q CHAMPS!!!

I have seen several of your segments involving the "no-touch icing". Don't you think it is funny that they want to ban fighting where 2 guys have a chance to keep themselves from being hurt (except in some cases) yet 2 guys racing for the puck at over 25 mph is OK? I have never heard of a fight ending a career (Bertuzzi / Moore wasn't a fight). Is it more exciting to see a man on the ice writhing in pain with a broke leg, hand or arm than to see some fisticuffs which a lot of fans seem to enjoy.
I really enjoy the show.
Thank you
Sean Hiscock
Labrador City, NL

THE PUNCH FROM THE OTHER PLAYER WAS DIRTY POOL AS THEY SAY. I BELIEVE HE DESERVED THE SUSPENSION. BY THE WAY, DON, LOVED YOUR TIE ON THE SATURDAY NIGHT COMMENTS THAT YOU WERE WEARING WITH YOUR HANDSOME DOG ON IT.

Don,

There is no left wing media in Canada. The best the left has is the CBC and you are thier main and most popular event -- and you are an admitted right-winger.

Cheers,

Josh

Hi Don watching the last couple of games with neill and jansen hits players, reminds me of goon hockey, slapshot, but the league and the teammates are to blame here. If it was gretzky or lafleur years ago there would be a price to pay. We have a good game going again now we don't need the bull of mediocre guys blindsiding top players, never mind this crap.. play the game hard, fast and rough. but not goon style... the elite players need to be taken care of its great for the game..and its up to the coaches and teamamtes to protect them.

It's simple! Emery is THE Toughest guy on the team. He wouldn't want anybody steppin in,Did you see the grin?

These anti-Neil comments are nothing more than the ravings of Leaf's fans. If Darcy Tucker had made that hit, somehow this would be Drury's fault. Give me a break! You are all hypocrites. It was a hit less than .5 seconds after a shot, he got what he deserved, this isnt a sport for the faint of heart and it isnt fake like WWE so give it up already and call back the army to plough your roads in TO!!!

i thought owen nolen was your boy?? what a jerk! anyone passing up a chance for the cup,especially at his age,must be stupid.
i guess the wings will win it without him.

Don Cherry, I feel the injured players equivalent salary from his missed games should be charged against the offending teams Salary CAP the following year. I like someone's idea I read that if a player got a career ending injury then the remainder of his contract would count against the teams cap whether it be the next 30 games or the next 5 years.

This idea would also protect franchise player's better considering that goons could cause an offending team to lose Sundin's $6.8 million cap space on a cheap shot or think of the sting NJ would feel losing a portion of Kaberle $4.25 million against their cap next year because of the concussion caused by the late hit of league minmum $0.450 Janssen.

As much as I like fighting in the game, this kind of rule could have kept cheapshot artist Samuelsson from ending franchise player Neely's career in the modern "CAP" day.

Just think if Ottawa was being charged against next years cap for evey game's salary that Drury missed -or- if whoever hit Connoly to the head was being charged against next years cap his full salary from this year it might make a player think twice before trying to violently hammer another player.

I believe that this kind of rule was brought in to penalize teams it would most certainly eliminate one-dimensional goons. It should atleast cause teams to think twice before icing this type of player.

the hit was great! catch a player with his head down and neil's below WAS NOT up!! to line him up he had to come from the side, but if he doesn't hit him... drury skates to the net for a scoring op. are players now supposed to not SCOTT STEVENS a guy because it's HARD HOCKEY?? what has happened to people. everyone has gone soft! hit a guy hard and take him out of the play.. if he gets hurt, thats the breaks. chris did what needed to be done!

I'm sure Don is going to address the elbow in the head from last night. It is absolutely impossible that the ref 10 feet away did not see this. This is the type of head hunting low blow hit that can end careers! What is the league going to do? Jenssen needs to be penalized and a message needs to be sent that this type of crap will not be tollerated. Jenssen has 1 point what does that say? There are enforcers but if he needs to hit dirty to get his job done he should not be playing. The leafs answer was winning. It was nice that Jenssen was not on the ice again, will he play in Toronto on the 22nd?
Love your comments and your show Don!
Vanessa From Barrie

OK...New Rule...No checking from the side, now...and oh...No checking when the guy has his head down either...Oh what the heck...No checking! So next time you're in the dressing room nursning a 3 goal deficit and the coach yells at you for letting a guy dance across the middle with the puck...You can safely say in the warm comfort of your sweet heart...But coach he had his head down...I didn't want to hurt the guy...Besides you can't hit a guy with your shoulder when he has his head down

Hit On Drury: The hit was illegal and Neil should have gotten games for it. It looks to be just a shoulder to the head hit. But if you watch carefully, Neil's elbow does follow threw the hit. When you start to see Drury start to fall, Neils elbow is perfectly parallel to his shoulder. Should have been penalties and games for it.

Similar hit on Kaberle: Friday night, Janssen head hunts Kaberle knocking him out.
1. Very late hit
2. Was striding into Kaberle ever since he got into the blue line
3. Leaps at Kaberle (Skates literally off the ground)
4. Shoulder/elbow to the head of Kaberle knocking him down and into the boards.
5. Claims he did nothing wrong. Just "finishing a check".
6. No call was made.

Now really, this has got to stop. Too many players are getting injured cause of this. The NHL is gunna be going through another "tons" of concussions phase again if this isnt fixed. Janssen probably wont get any games or anything. If the referees arent going to call those then if the player gets suspended by the league from it, the refs should be suspended for the same amount of games. Unless they can show proof they didnt see the hit.

With all this head hunting, goalie running, refs not being consistant with their calls is really hurting the league's creditability.

Especially when players get called for a hook or a hold if they even touch a hair or loose thread on the other player. Meanwhile someone gets yanked down, there will be no call. It's starting to become one huge joke.

Thats my 2 1/2 cents. lol

Remember all of us "whiners" from Buffalo about the hit on Drury? Ask Toronto fans and Darcy Tucker (of all people) how they feel about the hit on Kaberle.
Maybe if Bettman did anything to help this league Janssens would have thought twice about delviering the same cheap, dirty, head hunting hit.
Neil's hit was dirty, as was Janssens and both resulted in injury to good players. SUSPEND these idiots.
And Don...on going after goalies...you don't remember Lindy (Ruff) going after the surgeon himself, Billy Smith? After Smith tried to take Ruff's eyeballs out!

While the hit wasn't an elbow, the fact that he blindsided him makes it a cheap shot.I'm all for open ice hits but when the player doesn't have the puck and the other player is coming from a blind spot knowing the other plyer is defenceless and doesn't let up it's cheap. neil is a hardhitting player but like others have said backs down to a player he knows will fill him in.What goes around comes around.

Neil's hit on Drury was late. Late is late Mr. Cherry. Justifying a late hit by saying that his elbow was down and blaming Drury for not having his head up hurts your credibility the next time you render an opinion. Late, late , late.......

This is not what we have come to expect from you. I certainly hope that opinions are not being expressed in order to garner TV ratings.

It was an elbow to the head. Plain and simple. This isnt the WWF, Drury dosent carry a blade in his underwear.

Cherry is not up to date on Emery. Even Domi knew Emery was a dedicated fighter. He is knows for working out at boxing sites and had a reputation as a someone who likes to fight.

He would have felt insulted for someone to come and ''rescue''him.

David makes a good point. Neil comes in from the rear and blind sides Drury. His head does appear to be up. Just like if you were to punch someone, if you to punch them from the side the chance of you landing a KO shot is much easier. That's why hooks are so effective, and so was this hit. Since he was coming in from the side, it was that much easier to land his shoulder right on Drury's chin. I suppose it's legal, but it sure was dirty, and probably shouldn't be legal. That's head hunting if I've ever seen it.

If a hit is legal but dirty, there is a problem somewhere.

I agree Neil is an embarrassment. Good example - last year in a game against the Lightning he was doing his usual late hitting on the skill players and trash talking. When Chris Dingman challenged him at a face off, he turtled, balled right up on the ice with his gloves over his head.

The league should either run out guys like that, or allow the enforcers to take care of it on the ice. I personally prefer the latter.

To Donna and all you sens fans, guess what Chris Niel is not a good player, nor is he a goon, he is a wanna be goon, who as one poster noted only picks on smaller guys. That is called a coward. I guess you all forgot is big turtle act he pulled last year. Whenever he fights somebody who is really tough, he loses. Nobody cares that he leads the league in hits, this is one of the few areas the Sens acutally lead in, so I guess thats why they keep pointing it out.He is dirty and will get what is coming to him as most coward do. Oh and with all his money he should at least buy himself a tooth. Dan Heatley did and has been playing much better since then.

First Donni Cheri has Never had a good word for the Buffalo Sabres, being a regional rival of his Sainted Canadian Toronto Leafs. Second, Drury's head was UP, look at the video, he was Blindsided from the rear with a shoulder to the head by a notoriously classless chippy player. The NFL outlawed this type of stupid hit years ago to avoid serious brain damage to talented players. Tim Connoly has been out almost 2 full seasons because of mediocre tuff guys who target his head. WAKE UP NHL!

Had this been anyone else in the league, there would be no discussion. Had it been Drury hitting Neil, there were be no outcry by people who have absolutely no idea as to what they are talking about.

This is as bad as people in the video game industry, talking about how you can fly planes in to buildings in Grand Theft Auto.
Thing is you can also fly planes into buildings in Microsoft Flight Simulator but it doesnt have anyone wanting to ban it!

For everyone crying henny penny, this type of hit happens hundreds, if not thousands of times a week in the NHL and across Canada in other leagues.

The only difference is this player, Drury, fell the wrong way and didn't have his helmet on properly. This is not Neil's fault - it's Drury's fault. The hit was legal; the puck was not in possession of another player during the time of contact.

Neil plays the Canadian style of hockey, and if you don't keep your head up, you're going to get hurt. Drury didn't have his head up. Drury got hurt.

Look at the play that happened minutes later: Mair gloved Spezza's face from behind, just like Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore. The only difference is Spezza protected himself. Is anyone crying that this was a dirty hit?

The fact is Drury's injury was a matter of chance and circumstance: falling the wrong way and not having his helmet done up properly.

I have to diasgree with Bryan from Regina. The league is not turning 'European', the NHL has simply modified the rules (in terms of interference, hooking, etc.) to open the game up and make it more exciting. As for Chris Neil's hit on Drury, in the acutal context of a cheap shot, I dont believe it was. If you look at the replay, Neil never actually hit Drury with his elbow, and although Neil hit Dury while he was looking away, it was not from behind and it was not an elbow. I also think that calling Neil a coward is ridiculous. He is on of the toughest guys in the NHL and has proven himself as tough guy and as a goal scorer. As the opening opinion states in this discussion, the NHL is a fast and aggresive game, I say to Drury "heads up next time"

1. the NHL travelling ( all to quickly ) down the road to becoming nothing more than entertainment loosely based on hockey.
2. the game is fast and dangerous, if you're not careful, the players know this. I'd be willing to suggest that a number of the recipients of hard hits are just as mad at themselves for leaving themselves open to the hit as they are at the guy who hit them.
3. if a (cheap, illegal, you define it) hit results in an injury the player delivering the hit should be suspended until such time that the player he hurt is back or retires. fair is fair, you took him out you stay out too (without pay) double if you used your stick!.

Under current league rules the hit was clean. I think it was a hit to the head and I am sure Neil was attempting to injure him. Ottawa fans I don't understand how you can call the Sabres classless. I guess it stems from us beating you in the playoffs every year. I wish the Sabres would get another chance to play Ottawa this season but Ottawa will lose in the first round so the Sabres are out of luck in that regards. We'll send autographed pictures of us with the cup to Neil on the golf course.

Anyone who compares the hit by Brian Campbell to Neil's hit on Drury is obviously confused. Umberger had the puck, and they were skating face to face. Unlike Umberger, Drury did not have the puck and was hit seconds after shooting the puck. DIFFERENT SITUATIONS!!!! And even if his head was down, Neil knew what he was doing. Befor Saturday's game, the Sens were basically threatening Briere, saying that he would be next. Come on, that screams intent.

Don Cherry,quote"Neal is a good hockey player",Neal may be able to play at the NHL level but there is no doubt he is a goon,he admits that he is out to hurt players,I can only hope that one day Neal is on the receiveing end of a cheap shot like the one given to Dury.

I felt like I was watching a game from the 1980's. If there was more action like this, the NHL would be a much better league.

Get rid of the instigator penalty and bring back the hits, and the game will be good again.

being 70 years old and watching hockey close to 60 years i like to comment. it was a cheap and late hit, but what would you expect from chris neil? he is nothing but a head hunter,a untalented player who picks his shots. make sure the hitte is smaller and not looking. the remark from corey in ottawa about mair is a joke. heatlty was driving the car that snyder died in and if still in atlanta he would being doing 3-5 years for vehicle homicle that's why he got traded to your beauiful city.

There are way too many concussions nowadays. Most of the time people sayhe had his head down. Which is true in most cases. 30 years ago, players got caught with their heads down and weren't concussed. Not only are the players bigger and stronger, but the shoulder pads are made from materials that a hammer wouldn't dent. A hockey player's head has no chance when contact is made with those 'pads' That is where I would like to see the change made. It would make for safer hockey, yet the hitting would still be there.

There's a great deal I do not know about hockey, but I am an avid fan of the sport ( and of The Sens). It seems to me that the best part of the game is the speed and the skill. Using your brain and a good deal of heart should be the deciding factors to win on the ice. If you like hitting.....look at boxing or football. Contact is a part of the game but can only detract from it's best aspects. Drury is the heart of the Sabres and plays like a champ. To have him removed from the game by force made it less of a contest; who wants to win that way?(FYI: I watch hockey nightly via paid cable package and the only ice around here is at the indoor rinks)

There's a great deal I do not know about hockey, but I am an avid fan of the sport ( and of The Sens). It seems to me that the best part of the game is the speed and the skill. Using your brain and a good deal of heart should be the deciding factors to win on the ice. If you like hitting.....look at boxing or football. Contact is a part of the game but can only detract from it's best aspects. Drury is the heart of the Sabres and plays like a champ. To have him removed from the game by force made it less of a contest; who wants to win that way?(FYI: I watch hockey nightly via paid cable package and the only ice around here is at the indoor rinks)

late hit + cheap head shot = game misconduct

late hit = illegal

A cheap hit.
Now betman is going to tell a coach whom he should put on the ice.
they should call betman on every line change.
In the good old day's I seen games started with all defence players on the ice.
and you didnt have to ask a little schrimp to do it.

Neil was behind Drury and then leveled him with a shoulder into his head after coming from Drury’s blind side .This shows a complete lack of class and dis respect for the game.. How can this be a clean shot? Sure his head hit the ice and caused a cut, but a shot to the head caused this. If Neil hit Sidney Crosby or better- If Peters had hit Heatley like that, the league would be in an uproar. Anyone who thinks that hit was clean is ignorant to fair play and sportsmanship. It is also a joke that Lindy Ruff got fined?. If you watch the video of the ensuing face-off when the Sabres put Kaleta, Maier and Peters out , Heatley was the first player taking shots at Kaleta before the puck was even dropped. Ottawa started things. Then Heatley backs off as he is too much of a coward to fight anyone on Buffalo --Face to Face. The Senators showed just how much class they lack when they wouldn’t even stick up for their own Goalie. It is completely pathetic that the Senators could barley win against Buffalo on Saturday when half of the Sabres were called up from Rochester. The Senators lack the comradeship, guts and pure heart that the Sabres have, which is why they lost to them in the playoffs last year and will not go too far again this year. Fictional question ….If you were stuck in a foxhole or a working structure fire , would you rather have the Sabres players or Senators with you.?

In regards to the icing, what is one of the first things I learned when I hit the age point where checking was allowed? That you never chase a puck straight into the boards, you always chase it at an angle. As a defencemen, I never once had a problem with this sort of collision.

Come on Don. If I come at you from the side, you are not going to see me....what is the difference.

I love watching a good hit. not the hit that was laid on Drury. How does a guy get checked from a legal hit and end up face first on the ice.

Don, I use to have respect for you. I no longer do... nor will I watch your stuffy Ottawa favored opinions. I will switch channels and watch reruns of the simpsons.

Chris Neil was one of only two players to score fifteen goals and over 150 pim's last year. This year he leads the league in hits. He is a player who hits all the time and will stand up to anyone. It might not have been a pretty check, but it was clean and is part of the game. I know nobody likes to hear this but Drury should learn to use his equipment properly. If his chin strap was on tighter his helmet would have stayed on, he would have not have a concussion, and would have played on Saturday night. The real idiot in all of this was Adam Mair. I don't see anyone from Buffalo defendind this classless moron. To make comments about a dead man shows just how classy those Buffalo Sabres are. Loved to see Neil dominate Mair in their fight on Sat. I thought Mair got what HE deserved. Hopefully when these two teams meet again, Neil will line up Mair for one of his league leading bonecrushers. Oh and P.S. to all you bleeding hearts, there is a big difference between hitting to hurt and hitting to injure.

How many strides did Neil take before he hit Drury? It was a late hit.
The Senators showed their team chemistry that night, and thats why they always bow out early.

Hits to the head should be penalized, intentional or not, just like high sticking.

Hitting in the head is not allowed in the NFL, it remains a very tough game.

Here's a line MacLean could have used for this...

"Drury got run over by a 'C.N.' train!"

Ironically, there was a strike going on a the time though. And I'm not fan of Chris Neil or the Sens. Poor hit.

I am an Ottawa fan. If an Ottawa player got hurt by the ice and didnt have his helmet strapped on properly he'd be
a) stupid
and
b) at fault
and
c) thankfully out of the lineup.

It's too bad Drury was admiring his own pass, but you have to keep your head up. As for Neil aiming for his head?
Chris Neil
Height 6'
Chris Drury
5'10 and 5'8 with his head down.

Someone keeps forgetting that both (and almost every) team has made questionable hits in the past. This one from Neil, was unfortunately not one of them. The hit from behind on Briere later that game was, the crosschecks by Briere later that game were.

Stop whining because someone got hurt for his/her own fault.

the hit was cheap its hard to stop it when you cant get everyone on the same side if ottawas stars were hit the same way or sid the kid all hell would break lose thers no respect for each other exept when their union is looking for more money for the players then they love each other again full of respect for each other then.as for kerry fraser leaf fans must be sick of being screwed by him.

the hit was fine, sorry buffalo, get used to it, remember last years playoff when you took a run at umburger. keep your head up next time

you ottawa fans are idiots if you havent noticed our lineup we have all rookies who 20 and 21 years old and you guys can barely even beat us once pretty pathetic oh ya and member last years playoffs in 5 games you guys are a bunch of jokes ull never win hahahahaha

Drury hit his head on the ice, that is what cut his head and caused his concussion!! THE ICE! It wasn't Neil's elbow or shoulder, THE ICE CUT HIM! You may not agree it was clean or dirty, late or one time, but if you don't personally know someone don't attack thier character when their position is FIGHTER/HITTER! Just like Peters is a FIGHTER/HITTER! so he fights Emery to protect his own goalie. What you don't do is make smart comments to a player that lost his best friend in a car accident whlie he was driving.

I just want to say a couple of things. First of all if it was a hit on one of Ottawa's star players, I would expect nothing less from Ottawa than what Buffalo did. Except maybe put the goon line on maybe a shift latter than Ruff did (to try an avoid the fine). Also, Neil is a very classy player and works his butt off every game, he does his job which is to hit guys. For all you Buffalo fans, Neil is your Peters! He runs around hitting people too! And fights with star goalies like Emery, which you should be ashamed off. I think people have to remember if Drury had his head up, it would have been different. This time the circumstances resulted in an injured player which no one likes to see.

let's not forgot what had happen before the hit. the sabres had just scored 2 goals in less than 45 seconds. you can't tell me that neil wasn't out trying to change the momentum of the game and he did. but he should of hit peters or kaltea not a star player. game after game teams were taking liberties on the sabres and guys were getting injuried. the senators just happen to be the team that the sabres were going to and DID make an example of. it's just sad that the goalie was the only player willing to come to the defense of the senators star players. ever after he got jumped by peters. it just shows the players with heart on the senators are mcgratton emery and neil. maybe that's why the senators never go far in the playoffs. no heart

once again don makes a very solid point about the icing
thanks again don for clearing up forgotten but nasty realities that no-one likes to address

"Legal?" "Clean?" "Dirty?"

As a parent of a minor hockey player I don't see what the argument is about. I just see a sport that I don't want my son to play.

What I, and probably a lot of other parents, see is the end result: a guy getting badly injured . . . and a bunch of people arguing that it's ok to injure someone as long as the hit is "clean."

What kind of sport is this?

Less and less parents are enrolling their kids in hockey. Soccer has 3x the enrollment in my typical small Canadian city . . .

I thought that the hit was legal. What Neil's motivation was at the time, I don't know nor does anybody but Neil. Hockey's a big game for big boys. Keep your head up and quit yappin.

The problem w/the hit is that it was late, and a blindside one at that. It was clean and I didnt see an elbow involved, but come on all you whiners in Ottawa. The question to you all is what if this happened to Spezza, Heatley or Alfredsson? Every fan in the entire province would be crying foul and looking for retribution next game. Neil took out one of Buffalo's best players; theyre top goal scorer and your coach has the audacity to say Drury shouldve strapped his helmet on better. Thats utterly pathetic. Plus, Chris Neil from what Ive heard likes to spout off from his toothless mouth how he wants to "hurt" players and wants to settle scores. If thats not premeditated I dont know what is. Let's face it, the guys now a total classless goon who tried to ruin Drury's career. He should be given a 20 game suspension for those actions along w/a severe fine but the NHL could care less, unless of course its Sidney Crosby. Just remember Ottawa fans, what if that wouldve happened to those star players on your squad I just mentioned? To bad it didn't then Id love to hear your comments now. Classless is all I can say. And because of Chris Neil's continual idiocy on the ice, hes now helping to alienate the casual fan whom the NHL so hopes to attract to its game. Well in the eternal words of Mario Lemieux, the NHL is still a garage league!

Don I watched All the replays .5 seconds between the shot and hit (Buffalo & Ottawa) you all ways say "Keep your head up" . Ya it was a nasty hit but does anybody remember A defenceman by the name SCOTT STEVENS. People feared him when on the ice. Ask Kariya and Lindros (if they remember)! I'm a hockey fan true and true, the hit was within the rules. The problem is the game is getting so fast because of all the rule changes (clutching and holding) keep up the good work Don (thumbs up to you)

The hits in the "new" NHL may be fewer...but they're certainly nastier because without all the hooking, holding up and impedeing of opposing players it's a free lane to the puck carrier...bottom line...Keep your head up!

My biggest complaint about the hit was that Neil turned into Drury after Drury let his shot go. There was no need for a cheap cowardly headhunt like that. Of course, look who were talking about, a no talent hack like Neil. If it were not for junk like this in the game, he wouldn't have a job.

Hey Don I play for my hig school hockey team and was just wondering if you watch any of it and what you think of the level of play in high school hockey comparred to rep levels.

Listen folks, this is Pro hockey. It is not figure skateing or a no hit Rec league. If your Super-Stars cannot take the heat(or know what is going on around them) , put them all in a Goaltenders helmet with a metal cage and guess what, no more concussions. I have watched the hit in slow mo 15-20 times and I understand why there was no penalty. The hit was well justified. Any other NHL player would have taken advantage of the error that Drury made. I feel sorry for him. 25 years ago helmets were not mandatoy. Wake up and look after yourselves, PLAYERS.

The hit may have been legal, but Neal was aiming high, not straight at the body. Don't expect the NHL to do anything about these kind of hits. They let headhunter Scott Stevens go unpunished year after year after year for the same. They might as well call it the No-respect Hockey League.

The hit might have legal but it was cheap and intended to injure. No respect for Neil for honest hockey fans...

Hello! Don

I have been watching you since the Grapevine days. I like the rough kind of hockey like the days of Wendal Clark.

However, I have to disagree about Neils hit on Drury. First, Neil hit him from the side so Drury never saw him coming. Therefore he might as well hit him from behind. There is really no difference.

The problem with todays NHL is there is no consistancy. A penalty at one game is not a penalty at another!

Oh! I was watching Coaches Corner just this past Saturday and cringed as you agreed with Carey Frasers call back on Sundin's goal!!

When a goal is called back due to what is always a penalty. This being goalie interferece. There is always a penalty!

Why wasn't there a penalty? and why was't the whistle blown prior to the goal! or when Sundin touched the puck! That's because the wasn't a whistle!

I don't think the leaf fans would have been so discruntled with that call had there actually been a penalty. They wouldn't have been happy but at least there would have been some consistancy!

Please pass on to Carey the next time he refs a game. Ask him to put on one of the team sweaters. So we know what team he's on. The inconsistancies in the NHL rules killing me!

I just double checked the facts about Ovechkins hit on Briere: He was given a boarding major, a fighting major and a game misconduct.

The hit on Drury was dirty. Drury shouldn't have been admiring his pass, but because he was, he wasn't moving. If Neil had hit him shoulder to shoulder, no one would be arguing the point, instead he intentionally went after Drury's head. What happened to the match penalty for attempt to injure? The soft hearts in the NHL head office are allowing the game to get out of control. Either punish cheap shots or toss the instigator rule. Also to Donna, Ovechkins hit on Briere caused a brawl in that game as well. Ovechkin was forced to defend himself right away, he was ejected, and I am quite sure he got a boarding penalty. You should get your facts straight.

Neil was intentionally going for Drury's head, no question about it. Neil could of hit him lower in the body but chose to aim for his head, that's just classless. Drury is not cheap shot artist and Neil knows this, but this clown decides to go for his head anyway, it's so obvious. Maybe some other player should two hand Neil in the face with their stick, and when he's not looking, and we all can say, "it's just part of the game". There's something called RESPECT, I think Neil should be suspended for the rest of the season, it would surely send a clear message.

For all the bleeding hearts that don't like the roughness and toughness of a hockey game they have already invented a sport for your amusement. It's called figure skating.
And to Bryan in Regina, many have tried to take out Neil and non have yet been able to do so. You see, Neil can actually back it up. Enjoy your night at the figure skating rink.

if neil was a dirty hit
then what was the mair hit on spezza?
remember orpik on cole?
i guess if neil is a cheap shot artist
then mair is the cheap shot king

Dear Mr. Cherry:
The shot on Drury was legal by current standards in my view. Lindros took MANY similar shots. As long as these hits are an accepted part of the game, people need to get used to it.

If coaches and GMS don't like it they can petition the league to change the rules regarding head shots..with the Kevlar shoulder pads players are wearing these days it might be a good idea

As for Lindy Ruff putting out the big boys to send a message, I don't have a problem with that. However a skater going after a goalie is about as chicken shirt as it comes.

As an aside, I got quite a chuckle out of your comments regarding Kelly Hrudey looking like Mike Tyson with his new haircut. However, I think if you take a closer look, you might agree that if Kelly put on 40-50 lbs. he would be the spitting image of Curly Howard...nyuk, nyuk nyuk.

Cheers,
R.L. Fitz-Patrick

PS I love Coaches Corner

Chris Neil is funny to watch, he picks his battles carefully and always takes shots at smaller players, Its funny when McGratton is in the lineup he is alot tougher, when McGratton isnt' you don't see him going after a guy like Donald Brashear. He is a joke, I would be embaressed if I was a Sens fan.

While Neil didn't hit Drury with his elbow as some claim, he raised his shoulder and delivered an unneeded facial after Drury was of no significance to the play. Neil enjoys delivering these cheap shots-just look at his and Mcgrattons reaction to the fights on Saturday night. What's real sad, and what all the Senators fans don't comprehend, is that the Sabres beat them with a varsity/jv mix of callups on Thursday and almost pulled off a come-from-behind victory again on Sat.. Don't worry, Neil will remember his insignificance to Drury in the summer when Chris signs a 5million plus contract.

Was it a dirty hit?
Yes it was...the only people that dont seem to think it was a dirty hit is people from Ottawa
This is not uncoman from this sort of player or from fans from Ottawa
For some reason they seem to think that they can do no wrong
There isnt a rule in the NHL about hitting to the head. If there were more players in the NHL with just a little bit of class then there wouldnt need to be a rule but untill then this will carry on
Congadulations Chris...you managed to take aim at an ususpecting opponents head and knock him silly...you should be proud of yourself

Chris Neil leads the NHL with hits. He is a hitter. He knows how to hit. Drury should not have been admiring his pass and more importantly he should have had his helmet done up right. It's funny how no one is talking about that. He got hurt because he hit his head on the ice! Anyways, Neil does a great job, he's a good lad and I hope he continues to hit and hit hard. If you don't like hitting, don't watch hockey!

I agree totally with Don on one thing, Peters should not be out there fighting with Emery. First Emery has a load of gear on that doesn't make it a fair fight to start with, and added to that, you don't send an enforcer to duke it out with a goalie, that's just plan wrong. Peters is a tough guy with no head on his shoulders, granted Emery is one of the tougher goalies in the league, he wasn't hired to go fighting the likes of Peters. It sets a bad precident for coaches to go sending people after each others goalies.

Don, I totally agree with your assertion that the Neil hit on Drury was legal. It was a clean hit, Neil didn't use his stick to make the hit. However, since Gary Bettman is trying to make the National Hockey League to be like the National Basketball Association, the Teams' Enforcers can't do their jobs; which is to protect their teammates. Now in the Pre-Bettman NHL, a hit like the one Neil laid on Drury, an Enforcer such as Andrew Peters would have taken care of Neil. Bettman needs to realize that Hockey is a collision sport and not like Basketball or Baseball where physical contact with an opponent is a Foul. Come on, Bettman, this is Hockey!

It's pathetic and sad that someone (Donna) would rationalize that hit. It's one thing to root for your team - but even if its a deliberate attempt to injure??? These are the same people who will be "outraged" when one of our stars gets injured, paralized-or worse!

Luv the Sens but
Neil is, and always will be just a goon

CBC Has to grateful for having the smartest the most loving and most colourful gentleman in hockey.Don Cherry tells the truth and is sometimes maybe too honest for his own good and when he does make a mistake (very rare) like last night on coach's corner.When he made a stateman about a former hockey player being a nobody ,he came on and made it right.Don cares about the most important things in life family his country kids and hockey.My son Josh(12)and I love everything that he stands for in and outside the rink.Keep being you Don your loved and respected here in the east.Shawn&Josh.

As a hockey player all of my life theres times when hits dont need to be delivered. This incident falls under that category. Yes it was clean, it may or may not have been late but theres a choice every hockey player makes when faced with decisions like this. Players like Chris Drury would decline to engage in such an act. Players like Neil, coupled with the lack of both respect and talent engage in such oppurtunities. If it was Heatley or Spezza in the same exact situation, laying on the ice bleeding, all the Canadian fans would feel different...

Donna's comments are dead-on but not in the way I think she intended them. You're right, when Ovechkin made that hit on Briere, the Sabres knew it was incidental coming from a guy who is noted more for skill than dirty play. Niel is infamous for being a goon who has no respect for players who have more talent. If Ottawa shows no respect for the skill players for Buffalo, why should the Sabres respect the well being for the skill players on the Senators? If the league won't do anything to protect their players, then apparently the players have to police themselves.

Adam Mair is a "good guy?" He made a comment to Heatley about Snyder!! Ya, real good guy. Just because he fights, Don, doesn't make him a "good guy." I can not believe you would have respect for someone who would get that personal on the ice!! Class act!

The hit was a cheap preditory play and once again Don Cherry shows everyone that he is nothing more than a loud neanderthal wind bag.

Make no mistake the Sens beat Buffalo (AHL) Amerks by the smallest of margins, when the playoffs start Buffalo should be back to full strength. Buffalo should have no trouble taking out ottawa with those babies Spezza and Heatly.

Neil's hit is legal because the NHL is too cowardly to legislate against head shots. The lower leagues legislate against it and you still see intimidating play without the head shots. Come on NHL - wake up! The NFL takes care of its star players (quarterbacks) by penalizing and fining players who go after the head. Combine this with the NHL's unwillingness to address the icing issue, and I wonder how much they care about the players.

I have seen many icing collisions over the years that have resulted in serious injury but after trying to watch your video it became clear to me that not only has Gary Betman dropped the ball on this but many of his predecessors.Its absolutly crimminal that this rule has not been changed. It is my opinion that those in power today feel that a death will bring notoriety to this game in the USA - it is going to happen. Its a miracle that it has not happened to this date.

First, the hit was legal. Keep your head up!
Now, about these shootouts. Get rid of them, I hated them when I used to play competitive hockey myself, and they shouldn't be in the NHL. It's a team game, finish it that way. You want excitement for the fans, 5 minutes of 4 on 4, then 5 minutes of 3 on 3. I guarantee you that a goal would be scored, and it would be far more exciting watching the odd man rushes than these lame shootouts.

First, the hit was legal. Keep your head up!
Now, about these shootouts. Get rid of them, I hated them when I used to play competitive hockey myself, and they shouldn't be in the NHL. It's a team game, finish it that way. You want excitement for the fans, 5 minutes of 4 on 4, then 5 minutes of 3 on 3. I guarantee you that a goal would be scored, and it would be far more exciting watching the odd man rushes than these lame shootouts.

Dear Don:
Before I am forever forbidden to use the computer again, I wanted to thank you for last night's broadcast and all your kind words.
Peace !
Joanne Vickers

i am not a buffalo fan, but it was a cheap shot, further more if you look back you will see thats one of the ways ottawa like,s to play buy doing cheap shots and taking buffalo players out ,i pray every night for a lot of injurys on ottawa

I am over 50 so i have watched hockey when there was not all this protective equipment and yet I know there were fewer injuries of this type in the old days. Don has mentioned the difference in equipment (elbow and shoulder pads) so recently I checked some out in a sports store. I believe that part of the problem is the hardness and shape of elbow pads. I am watching sports highlights from Sat. night and they showed injuries on clean hits. They were clean hits. So, either the players need to learn to keep their heads up and/or they need to change things like the elbow and shoulder pads to soften them up a little. If you take out clean hitting because players are getting hurt you might as well make it no contact, and if that is the case the puck can hurt people so why not change it to ringette. Yvna Cornouyer was small, as was Henri Richard and Dave Keon but they played with no helmets when hard open ice hits were the norm.ds

Don: Neil's hit was a good hit.I have watched you give at least two demonstrations on Coaches Corner about shoulder pads and elbow pads used by players today.Back in the day when I played we used shoulder pads and elbow pads made from a soft material designed to protect you when you fell to the ice or hit the boards.Could you please give one more demo and this time use Gary Betman? Dress him in hockey gear and put him at center ice. Check him once with the old gear and once with the new gear.When he wakes up let him know that the problem is not the hit, IT IS THE EQUIPMENT!
P.S. If Gary does not want to go on the ice and would agree to be hit in the face with a cast iron frying pan it will give the same result!Thanks for your time.
Raymond

Neil's hit was legal, the Sabres did what they had to do...enough said.

You have to start to believe that the NHL is starting to come around with the notion that fighting sells the game just as much as player skill. Otherwise how do you explain that there were no suspensions, no fines to the combatives. They wanted a good rematch. It sells the game. You can't tell me that the regular "nobody" sitting in some US state is going to change the channel when he sees a good tilt across his television screen. The reality is that Mixed Martial Arts (UFC) is one of the fastest growing sports in world and its brutally bloody. Its probably not a fair comparision but you know NHL people are paying attention to what people want to see. If they're not...than that about explains why the game is losing interest in the southern markets.

Memo to the league...sell the entire package. Its a great game and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

If even if the Neil hit was legal (okay, the
league says it was), it was still late and
a cheap shot. If his goal was to try and
win some momentum back for Ottawa at that
point in the game, he could have hit Drury,
and hit him hard, without going for his
head, especially when it was obvious that
Drury didn't see Neil coming. Whether or not
Neil has enough skill on skates to control
that is one thing (and maybe he doesn't)
but it looked to me from the replay on dvr
that he went after Drury AFTER he knew that
Drury had already moved the puck.

Hockey is a tough sport and a physical one
- if you didn't know that already, all it
takes is to look at the Knuble/Shanahan
collision to know that there are plenty of
severe injuries that happen inadvertently.
I've been a hockey fan most of my life
(and that's longer than a lot of you
whipper-snappers have lived yet) but I truly
believe the NHL needs to get rid of deliberate
shots to the head. Most of the NHL players
I've seen play over the years have at least
enough skill to avoid those kinds of hits and
when it comes right down to it, no matter how
much you may dislike or hate a particular
individual - shouldn't you respect your
colleague fellow players enough not to
purposely lay a hit on a guy that could end
his career? Again, it happens often enough
in pure chance circumstances - it doesn't
need to be intentional.

Just my $.02.

I know a lot of people are saying that it was
wrong of Andrew Peters to go after Ray Emery
because he's a goaltender -- please note: Emery is also a fan and practioner of the sport of boxing. I'm not a big fan of Ray Emery, but even I, from my outside vantage point, am perfectly aware that he is no stranger to fighting and probably fights better than anyone else on his team who might feel a need to "defend" him. I think Peters got a bit carried away by the moment, and in the melee probably missed the fact that I thought Ray Emery gave Marty Biron some respect by not pounding the heck (or term of choice) out of him. I think Peters went after Emery for two reasons - one, he missed the respect Emery showed for a guy (Biron) who is not a fighter and who he outweighs by a substantial amount and also because of the smile on Emery's face. Frankly, it made me (far from a fighter, and though a heavyweight, not an in shape heavyweight) want to wipe the smile off his face too in any way possible.

Coach - Isn't nasty a synonym for dirty?
I can't believe the Sens skaters all turtled in Buffalo and then Mair doesn't go to work on Neil in Ottawa. What are those guys thinking?
I predict bad things for Chris Neil in the future.

I totally agree that the hit on drury was legal. These are athletes making millions of dollars, who are taught at a younger age to watch for hits, such as to what happened to drury. I haven't been watching hockey this year because it is going european style and when I see a clean hit like that and especially hear of north american fans of the game complain, it makes me sick to my stomach. Get some sense of the game you pathetic idiots, as hitting will always be part of the game. I condone hitting from behind and cheap shots. This was a clean hit! I'm not one of the those "couch hockey professionals" as alot of the complaining fans are. I have played all levels of organized hockey and to hear all these so called experts state it was dirty, put on skates and go play. You will never complain again, as you will understand what it's like to play the game at that caliber. So the next time you complain, take your soother or cheese puff out of your mouth, and go fight a guy of Mcgrattan's caliber, or go take a hit from Peters. You'll never complain again, you pathetic losers! And all the credit to Emery for taking on all his battles! That's what todays NHL is lacking. A goaltender taking care of all his battles,and an enforcer such as Peters couldn't take the smirk of his face! I'm damn proud of this man! We're both from the hammer and this is the type of hockey we were both taught, and it's the type of players the NHL so desperately needs!

The hit was legal. Neil hit Drury half a second after he passed the puck, and it was not a dirty hit. Yes it looked like Neil went for Drury's head, but Neil is 2 inches taller and has 15 pounds on Drury. If Drury had been paying attention he could have defended himself or prepared himself for the hit. Isn't Don constantly telling players to keep their heads up and to pay attention? I guess Drury forgot that or no he was too busy admiring his pass. Yes the end result was bad, nobody likes to see that, but it happened when he hit his head on the ice. The reason there is so much talk about this hit is because of who placed it and who received it. When Ovechkin hit Briere from behind, did he recieve a penalty? Did Ruff send a lynch mob after him? The answer is NO, to both of those questions. Why? Because of who placed the hit. Briere didn't have the puck, he was boarded from behind. That hit could have ended badly. If people are going to get down on Neil, why not on Ovechkin? They don't because of who they are. If it were reversed and Drury hit Neil, and Neil was injured do you think there would be this much talk? No there wouldn't be. It goes back to who's doing the hitting and who's receiving. I do agree with Don, something has to be done with icing. The NHL should take a look at that and change it and soon.

Although I am an Ottawa fan I do agree the hit was legal but in the same sense it was cheap and no need for it in the game.

the hit on drury was late which made it unclean. drury is a captain, not only that but the sabres already have seven injured players, now 8 with drury out indefinitely from concussion like symptoms. that's why the sabres responded like they did, and we all know that emery is much bigger and tougher than biron, which is why peters stepped in the first place. neil actually said that if he hit drury like that in ottawa, he would have received a standing ovation. then neil tried starting how many fights in the game today just because the senators had a lead?? the fights today started only after the senators went after buffalo's rookies. mair and peters had to stand up for the new kids.

Of course it looked like a head shot. Neil is 3 inches taller and 30 lbs heaver than Drury. It was a clean hit by a bigger guy. It may have been late but clean. What was dirty was Peters going after Emery. That's a coward

what about this crap with nik kronwalls hit on lupul on friday night, A guy like that with a full face cage goes out and makes a high dirty hit knowing full well that he is untouchable because hes wearing a cage, so i guess all you have to do is throw a cage on then go around throwing nasty hits knocking the other team out of the game, something should be done!!!!!!!

Don, I agree with your comments on no-touch icing and believe that it should be brought into the NHL. However, one thing I don't understand is where is the Player's Association? If this were any other unionized workplace, and there was asource of injuries which could be completely eliminated by one simple change in procedure and the employer refused to do it (as the NHL seems to) there would be a wildcat strike. The players seem to want it as evidenced by a straw poll which wsconducted and then broadcast on Coach's Corner las season. The player's asociation should be raising hell about this as this is what they get paid to do: represent and protect their members. Yet, all I am hearing in all of the media is silence. Keep pushing the issue and maybe Mr. Bettman and/or the Gms will eventually get it. I only pray that your prediction does not have to come true for it to happen.

The hit on Drury last night was brutal! I don't care if people say it was clean or not, it was a hit to the head! It's a gutless shot by a no name hack on one of the leagues most talented players. Way to go tough guy!!

Sorry Don, i disagree with you on Neil's hit on Drury, it was a dirty shot, Neil has done it before, its a wonder no one has taken him out over his cheap shots, Neil is a coward, case closed! Even Bobby Orr said it was a cheap shot, and believes head shots should be outlawed, i agree with him. This league is getting so European , its ridiculous, you cant even graze a guy with your stick, without getting a penalty, then when ya get the " cheap shot " artists, like Neil, those hits arent penalized. Just witnessed a scrap between Peters and McGratton, decision, Peters, as McGratton looks pretty shook up in the box, and has wounds he's lickin in there, way to go Andrew! As far as Ryan Smythe goes, if the Oilers dont sign him, theyre nuts, bottom line. He's worth the 5 million plus.