Viewpoint

Scott, in your article you mention that the hit by Neil was not against the rules, well it was. It's tough to see in the camera angle whether it was an elbow or just an elevated shoulder, but that's not exactly the point. My point is whatever happened to good old time "hockey," when hitting was designed to separate the man from the puck. This I believe is how it's written in the rulebook as well. Drury is obviously a great player and Neil isn't as much so, but that doesn't really matter because the rules should be the same for everyone. Hitting a man without the puck is interference, whether it be 1 second after Drury shoots it or if he never had it at all. Blind-siding a guy after he shoots the puck is definitely not even finishing your check, which contrary to popular belief, I think is illegal. Nevertheless, Drury had his head up, looking at a top corner to shoot at. There's no reason he should have to watch for goons like Neil trying to injure him.

Why is everybody criticizing Neil??? He was just doing his job...
Everybody wants to see this and that being changed from the game of hockey in the NHL... Obstruction, hits to the head, fighting, enforcers, blah blah blah... NOTHING needs to change!!! The game is fine the way it is... I've played and watched hockey my whole life, and the message that coaches always tell you, is if you see someone with their heads down... make them pay and remind them what game we're playing... As for Neil, GOOD JOB... And for Drury... Maybe next time you'll keep your head up...

No argument can be made to justify this type of play. The game is sliding further into obscurity while pundits and broadcasters grasp at agruments that support pugilism as being central to the game of hockey. I have been hockey fan all my life, but have turned my back on the NHL because the lessons that are being taught to young people, such as my sons, by these and other actions, all supported by those who love to live in the glory (or gory) days of "old time hockey", are morally deficient. My stomach turns no more for I will not spend another penny or minute watching the NHL turn into something akin to professional wrestling. Drury: get well soon, only to be knocked out again. Neil: how do you sleep at night?

Anything else to add to the laundry list of bitching and moaning coming from down south? Don't allow skill players to take hits, and make sure they have their head up BEFORE you decide to execute a legal check? The only cheap shot I saw Thursday was the green-light handed out by Ruff to run Ottawa.

Hockey's physical. Players know that when they sign up. There are rules in place - maybe not enough - but everyone knows those rules, and knows where they lack. The result for Drury was unfortunate, but it was a legal move. If he hadn't gotten as hurt as he did, I doubt the uproar would be the same. If you want pretty sports, go watch golf.

You can tell the majority of people on here are biased, particularly the Buffalo fans. I have no love for either team or player, but by the current rules of the game, the hit was legal. The hit came within a second, was not from behind, and the contact was not made with an elbow.

However, I do think the NHL needs to take action to curb incidents like this. I don't want star players to be hurt anymore than anyone else here. First of all, starting next year, the NHL should make it mandatory for all elbow and shoulder pads to have a layer of padding/foam on the outside, as opposed to the rock-hard plastic casing that currently exist. This would likely reduce similar injuries by 1/2, without reducing the protection offered to the player wearing the pads.

Secondly, the NFL allows reaching and grabbing at players, but the head is treated specially. Grab the facemask, and there is a penalty. The NHL should be able to introduce a similar rule that shows the head is not just an extension of the rest of the body, and must be respected. General bumps to the head during hits are going to happen, and should continue to be left alone. But if contact is made directly to the head and the player is injured because of it, it should be a match penalty with automatic disciplinary review - just like hitting from behind into the boards is treated differently than doing the same thing in open ice.

It was a dirty hit. Neil hit him from behind ,struck at his head in such a vigourous way that the movement of his arm looked like he was throwing an elbow. It was an obvious attempt to injure a man who couldn't see him coming. Now where have I seen that before? Marty McSorley? How long was Marty suspended for? Chris could have killed him ,did injure him. The NHL has to stop this crap perhaps out-lawing blows to the head. Though if you do that ,where does that leave fighting? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

I am a sens fan. But, first and foremost, I am a hockey fan. The hit that Neil did to skilled player like Drury is an anti-propaganda of hockey !

The hit: Legal

Was it late: Debatable

Was Drury vulnerable: Yes

# of hockey players who respect head hunting another player:0

Final note:
Lindy Ruff was correct in saying if that hit is put on Sidney Crosby, the league would be up in arms.

I'm just an advocate for fair treatment.

Head hunting should be a penalty.

Regardless of the hit being clean or dirty, the senators aren't even comparable to the sabres. Look what we did to you last year in the playoffs, and our team is lightyears ahead of where we were previously. The only thing you guys up north have to look forward to is, battling with montreal for the 7th seed so you're not out of it in the first round. Our season series is over but if we do see you cowards in the postseason, make sure Heatley has his helmet tight.

and the league wonders why it cant get a tv contract in the states . keep letting goons like neil,take out skill players with no retribution in site,if that was crosby there would have been hell to pay. not too sure how many fans want to watch a league full of clowns like that , obviously not many here in the states hence a lack of a major tv contract,but maybe you folks in the north,where you cant seem to keep your teams in town ,like watching that kind of hockey in your ice fishin huts. enjoy.

As a fan, that game on Thursday was as entertaining as any. The unfortunate thing is, we are still talking about this hit. I will admit that Neil at the last second did raise his arm to get Drury a high, and it was questionably late, but remember we are watching from the sidelines, with slowmotion replay, and we are not on the ice. There is a reason they promote the game as the fasted sport on ice. It is easy for us to critisize Neil and the league, but one thing for sure, is that the players must protect themselves at all times.

Joe Buffalo: Peters never even landed a solid blow against Emery. Even though Emery was weighed down by goalie gear, and had just been in a fight, he would not want Spezza or Heatley jumping in for a number of different reasons which I'm sure you can figure out.

Hockey is a physical game, this happens. It was a legal hit. Sometimes, you have to pay the piper for your actions. The NHL then went to say that both teams were warned. For what? Having a fight. These are grown men doing their job.

Remember when Brian Campbell hit R.J. Umberger? Lindy Ruff must've forgot that. That hit wasn't dirty either, but he did injure him, with his shoulder as did Chris Neil. This happens in the game of Hockey. Some guys have class, some don't. Ronald Petrovicky called Kris Newbury and apologized, his reaction, it's a tough game, this stuff happens. Get over it.

"NHL Legal", or not, the hit was dirty and meant to injure. That someone thinks this kind of thuggery should be part of the game, is emblematic as to what is wrong with the NHL.

This hole situation has become all too provincial with most of Canada saying Neil's hit was clean and south of border saying the hit was dirty.

In the context of the rules yes it was legal, but look at the highlights with an open mind Neil skated toward Drury and started to bring his elbow up and just wound up missing. Drury let his shot go and was NOT ADMIRING HIS SHOT AS HAS BEEN REPORTED.

iF A SABRE had done this to Spezza or Heatly I am sure fans would of been calling for suspensions.

So stop being a bunch of hippocrates and start believing the NHL has to do something about hits to the end before someone gets killed.

The game can still be violent and physical without trying to make some one a vegetable for the rest of there life.

All the hits we have seen that have caused injury this year, are clearly intent to injure. Why else would you look for the opportunity to clean someone when they are not looking or are looking to see if their shot went in. Just look at the guys with the hits, Torres, Neil, not sure about Armstrong but these are role players who are there to do this kind of thing. It is clearly an intent to injure, to catch someone with their head down and make it to the highlights. Could be in a contract somewhere.

i am a true blue sabres fan, and i was also at the game on thursday- which happened to be the best game i have been to in a long time. was the hit clean? i suppose, in the sense that it wasn't that late, nor out of the blue. however that fact that neil went for his head (chin strap loose or not) is lame. yes, he has around 3 inches and 30 or so pounds on drury; so why does he have to go for the head and try to knock him out? he probably could have nailed him and gotten his point acrossh without sending him bloody to the locker room. i'm all for big hits and enforcers, its what makes the game great and exciting, but if guys go out there trying to put other fellow, professional players on a stretcher, i think thats just disrespect. if you flipped the table and it was peters hitting spezza or heatly or whatever, i'm sure ottawa would be griping about the same things as we are. Also, Ruff did the right thing by sending out the tough line, and the sens coach should have known it was coming- heck the ten year old kid behind me was looking for peters to be on the faceoff. but, i do think that peters' going after the goaltender was wrong, he beat marty fair & square and that should have been it. all in all, the league need so stop picking and choosing what hits to call and what not, ive seen some weak hits called for penalties and to see this one go unaddressed is disheartening. call 'em all or don't, just do it fairly to protect all players- skilled or not!

How many times do we have to watch a guy make a great pass, turn and cross to the middle while looking back at his handy work? Lindros, Naslund now Drury... solid hits - yes. Morale of the story - look where you're going and keep your head up! this is not a knee on knee intent to hurt, just a crushing hit. Drury wasn't looking where he was going!!!!

I am not sure how it can be said that the hit on Drury was legal, if you know hockey you can clearly see that it was a late hit, a cheap shot by a joke of a hockey player in order to sideline a possible mvp. Also, that is possibly the most biased article I've ever read, you might as well have written Go Sens at the end!

Any Buffalo fans that are crying about this should look in the mirror and question themselves on how they root for players like Roy and Briere who are constantly flopping all over the ice and embarrassing themselves and the game. Roy sitcks his knees out at opposing players and nobody says a word.
I like Drury, a lot, and would love to see him with a spoked B on his chest next year but his head was down and he got caught, end of story.
As one of my coaches used to say when someone got a penalty for a clean hit "you hit him too loud" when he hit the boards.

The hit was dirty. He should get 50 games. No one should hit like that. I think Drury should file a lawsuit.

I agree 100%. For the folks in Buffalo, the sport is called hockey and hitting is involved. Drury should keep his head up. Remember the Campbell hit on Umberger, Sabre fans? Now I know that Neil is not a skill player and Drury is, but all Peters should of done is go after Neil and he would of accepted the offer to dance. Maybe this is why the hockey is not succesful down in the states, they don't understand it...

As I understand it, the AHL, OHL, and probably others have a rule against hits to the head. Is the author really saying physical play doesn't exist in these leagues?

If the league intends on opening up the ice for offense and scoring skill by calling lame penalties such as marginal hooking calls, then how can "legal" head hunting shots aimed at taking out those skilled players help the finesse game its now trying to sell? Regardless, in the grand scheme of things, if the Sens could barely beat the Rochester Americans last night, there's no way they're going to prevent the Sabres from winning the cup this year. That alone gives satisfaction over the whole incident.

Interesting that everytime there is any type of incident in Buffalo they are always crying suspension. (LaFontaine, Briere, Connelly, Drury.) Strangely enough the suspensions don't occur.

There can only be two logical conclusions:

1) Every NHL committee or review board that has ever existed hates the Sabres.

or

2) Perhaps Sabre fans opinions are obviously skewed toward their team of choice.

The hit wasn't late. Count the time at regular speed from when the puck is released to when impact is made and you won't get to one full second. Also, watch the video and you will see that the puck has NOT even crossed the goal line when the hit is delivered.

Quit whining.

That hit reminded me of what I did to Lindros...I was paid a lot of money to give a 100% and if I was on the ice you knew to keep your head up or pay the price.
That's hockey at the highest level. The stakes are high and everyone is going to battle. If you don't like it...go watch baseball.

joe Buffalo....no kidding a sabres fan?......whatever. They are a good...very good team. but give me a break!!!! Hockey duh!! Talk to the League! duh! NHL League maybe!
Than you might be getting somewhere!!!

Thanks Scott, for telling it like it is.
Drury was just the unfortunate recipient of a hard finishing check. Bad luck. Case closed. People's reactions to your column are just that. Reactions. Not real thoughts.
Everyone has their own ideas about what "their" NHL should be. Some want to see figureskaters, and all-star type
hockey, some want nothing but hits and fights. With most people somewhere in between.
Myself, I like the fancy plays, the beautiful passes, and highlight reel goals, but I also love the intensity, violence, and the drama that comes with these incidents. Just me.
People will be arguing about this kind of thing forever.
Just a bit of perspective here. Why do people like motorsports? Or downhill skiing? Because of the chance of serious injury. It lends a certain gravitas to the sport, and the same is true of ice hockey.
The players know that career ending injuries can and will happen. By accident or design. That's what they get paid the big bucks for.
It's an entertainment. It's a circus. A circus maximus. But that's just my opinion. Like the old joke goes...opinions are like a-holes. We all have them and they all stink.

Anytime a player goes after another player's head, it is not a clean hit! The league has to start policing these cowards that are running around trying to knock guys out! I think any hit to the head should be an automatic penalty and be reviewed by the league. NHL stars career's are going to be ended because some no talent 4th liner takes advantage of a guy whose looking the other way. Neil is a coward! I totally agree with Ruff's call to put out the line he did, I just can't believe Murray was dumb enough to put out his stars. Did he think nothing was going to happen after his no-namer knocked out Buffalo's star? Idiot!

Scott, you better look at the video again. Drury does have his head up, exactly as you think that he should. It didn't help him one bit. Neil comes in from Drury's blindside, uses his shoulder and starts to throw his elbow up as he his delivering the blow to Drury's head. This is a clear case of trying to injury another player which should have resulted in a match penalty and a suspension. This is not a situation where Drury was the victim of a hard check from the front or that he had turned to avoid a hit. Compare the hits on Connolly or Umberger last year to the one on Drury. Drury didn't have the puck nor was the checking player anywhere in Drury's view regardless of where he might be looking (head up or not). Its high time that the NHL takes care of these head shots. Neil is well noted for being the type of player who believes that his job is to "hurt" other players. He's said so himself. Would you prefer to watch players like Neil, McGratten, Peters and Mair play most of the game ... or would you rather watch Briere, Drury, Crosby, Heatly, and Spezza?

(HOCKEY FIGHTS ) There is nothing I like better than a good street fight. Preferably if there is more than 2 combatants , 6 would be just about right. What makes it better is if there are alot of people there screaming and yelling . I love seeing the happy faces of the audience , the smiling , the chearing and the egging on of the combatants. This happens if there is blood and the more the better. The best fights are when someone gets a concussion or breaks some bones. When the police arrive there is usually a collective sigh of dissapointment but when everything is cleaned up it really makes your night. Now that's entertainment. THE WHOLE SPECTACLE OF HOCKEY FIGHTING IS SICKENING AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BLIGHT ON A BEAUTIFUL GAME .

It is true the hit may have been a little late and may have been worth a penalty but it was not intentonaly dirty. For Lindy Ruff to send out his goons against a skill line and tell them to run the players that was dirty Lindy Ruff is a hipocrite and should quite whining. Also the grab from behind on Heatly's neck looked very simaler to the Todd Bertuzzi incident. THe league should suspend Mair for that if it really wants to send a message.

If anybody is naive enough to think the Sabres wouldn't try to lay the same hit on an opponent given the chance they are lying to themselves.
Hockey is a tough game and sometimes these hits occur.
Retribution should be doled out but please spare us the indignation at the Neal hit...Game on!!

What a bunch of whiners. That's why your fans and not players. What difference does it make if your Drury or Neil taking the hit? The star players have to be protected, wha wha whaaaaaa! It's hockey man, take the hit or stay home.
If you think that hit was'nt clean you have'nt seen the tape or you're blind.

WoW -- Scott you call you self a commentator. If this hit was on Sidney or another star player there would be a suspensions for sure. Regardless of late or otherwise ,Neil could have hit his shoulder or other body part but to go to the head is a disgrace. This league has gone crazey for it wants a lot of things to happen but doesnt want to make the changes. Where is the example for the kids coming up into he NHL? Example starts from the Top down not the bottom up. Chris Neil I hope you get yours and I am sure you will.

The shoulder hit on Drury was unfortunate; but that is the game of hockey; it was a legal hit and in my opinion, the only appalling thing was the miscalculation of the Ottawa Bench Boss. Lindy Ruff did nothing wrong; if my best player was hurt, I'd send out my Goons to do equal damage. Sugar Ray was absolutely fantastic; those colgates will grace the pages of hockey for years to come. Peters, the Buffallo Bully subdued by a Goalie; Can you remember him swinging his stick like a Golf club last year against the Maple Leafs? What a Panzie!! Tonight will be a great game but I believe the Fans will be let down. Let's face it, it is a family show.

I totally disagree that it was a fair hit. Niel leaned into it and that would be considered intent to injure in minor hockey. That hit was reminisant of the hit on Nasland by Moore. Those types of hits have to be punished otherwise I would agree with both Crawford and Ruff, you don't lay down after that!

No suspensions yet, $10,000 US fine to Lindy Ruff and I am sure a strong case of "Get a Grip" or you will be watching hockey from home, from Mr Campbell. Lindy will be Mr goody Two shoes! He knows, he messed up, Big time. Lets play hockey and keep those chin straps tight!!!!!!

Im a Buffalo fan, but I want to talk about the 4 guys, I don’t even know if I should refer to them as guys, COWARDS! that were on the ice for Ottawa, besides Emery. Andrew Peter’s, our tough guy goes over and starts fighting your goalie, and what do the 4 of you do, hide behind the refs and watch as Peter's hits Emery blow after blow. That’s why Ottawa will never be as strong as a team as Buffalo, no matter what the situation, who is on the ice, the sabers are going to defend each other. Mair and Peters are considered tough guys, but Marty, Kaleta who was playing in his first NHL game. I don’t think Marty has ever thrown a bunch in his whole life, and not even thinking twice, he comes to Drury’s side. I just want to say im proud to be a BUFFALO FAN, and what Lindy did was right, Murry knew it was coming, he just knew his team is full of a bunch of cowards, and wanted to get the penalty minutes, he figured that’s the only way he could get a head of Buffalo. Ottawa you should be embarrassed of your team, a bunch of cowards who can't even beat a team with 6 rookies. Emery I respect you, you’re the only guy on that roster that can call himself a real hockey player.

If you look at the replay you will see that Drury's helmet comes flying off immediately after the hit. I suspect the cut on his forehead is from hitting the ice without his helmet and not from the initial hit from Neil. Too many players wear their helmets so loose that they don't stay on after being checked.

The hit was clean.

So when one of the league's goons targets and drills Heatley or Spezza out of commission for several months with a blow to the head, will you say the same thing? I wonder.

Frankly, after someone intentionally takes out your star player, all bets are off. You've justified to me that any of the Senators are fair game for a head injury.

I just saw the hit and it is as legal as they come.

Was the hit legal? Borderline, but probably yes. The real question should be whether hits of this nature should even be allowed in the NHL. I don't think there's any good reason for head-hunting in the league, even if it's within the confines of the rules.

I wonder if Andrew Peters had made the exact same hit on Jason Spezza or Dany Heatley, would the Ottawa fans be defending him the way they're defending Neil?

And what if Neil had taken out Sidney Crosby in the same manner that he took out Drury? I wonder what the reaction from the league office would be?? Can you say suspension...

a blow to the head is a blow to the head, be it an elbow, shoulder, fist. a shoulder check is legal so is "finishing your check." i don't want to see players get hurt particularly a guy like drury. reminds me of the naslund/moore/bertuzzi debacle. steve moore was not trying to deliberately injure naslund but try and tell that to a canucks player/fan. what is payback on bertuzzi for what he did to moore??? anyway i digress. hope mcgrattan kicks peters butt tonight.

As a Sabres fan for over 30 years, I have lived through the highs and lows with this team. This years incredible start along with the way this team is currently playing only hightens my hopes for that elusive prize. The hit by Chris Neal on Drury was Late. Clean if it wasn't after the play, but in this case, way to late for my liking or any other Sabres fans liking! I agree with some of the postings, "Best regular season game I can remember!" I think tonight will be worth the price of admission. Usually the rematches don't live up to the hype. Not this time. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Sabres are gaining points with over 6 rookies playing. I think number 7 gets his start tonight. Amazing! If Ottawa can't beat the Rochester Amerks, start polishing up the golf clubs, It's gonna be a long off season!

Yes some hits are "legal".
So are the many fights "legal".
Does that mean the toughest guy can go ahead and start a fight with the most talented player because it's "legal" ?
This isn't a question of legality, it's a question of "what's right or wrong".
To me, this was just wrong.

Bottom line: Any fan who thought it was just a clean hit would be singing a different tune if it was a star player on THEIR team...You are a liar if you claim otherwise.

Drury's head was completely up. Did you even watch the video? Drury didn't have the puck (probably for at least a second) and Neil had plenty of time to let up. It should have been a penalty, but the refs were looking the other way...cuz the puck was nowhere near Drury anymore. Do yourself a favor and watch the video next time and don't go by what the Senators say in their press conferences. Maybe then you'll at least get the title of your article right.

What seems to be getting lost amid all of the chaos is the fact that the Sabres won the game, again. Seven starters out and another victory. Determination, will, and fortitude are traits this team is quickly beginning to exemplify. Team, is the key word.

Hits like Neil's should be penalized with a fifty game suspension. Like Scott Stevens catching them in the "trolley tracks" they are hits delivered with no other purpose than injure. People who defend his action are not sports people. They are morons and their anachronistc attitudes are miring the great sport of hockey in the third tier, just above lacrosse.

Who wants to see the stars get hurt for commiting the sin of trying to make a skilled play?

Absolutely ridiculous.

Ashamed to be a Sabres Fan, are you kidding? Sabres fans couldn't be prouder of their team. If anything this whole incident just brought a tight knit group of hard working players closer together and if they get healthy by playoff time lookout. As for the hit, the check was clean(no elbow) but it was clearly late and the Sabres responded like a team that cares for each other unlike the Senators. If anybody is to be ashamed it's a Ottawa fan, the Senators are everything the Sabres are not: a soft team with no character or heart who folds every year in the playoffs. A team by the way who lost to a Sabres team who lost their best player and had half a roster of AHLers. As for Murray crying over the incident look back when he coached the Ducks in 2001, he did the same thing against the Flames but the Flames so called none fighters fought back and defended themselves and each other, they didn't curl up into little balls and play possum.

I was in attendence to the arena durning the sens vs sabes match up. Whether the hit was clean or dirty is still to debate but chris neil intended to hit drury. But the point is that drury got a hit to the head and thats not right and how the game is supposed to be played.
After seeing a player with that history of hitting is very believable. Chris Drury's head was UP as he was looking for the rest of the playand neil came from behind and hit him right in the head. and i dont kno why murray is claiming that the hit was down low when drury landed his face right smack dab on the ice. How would that be possible if the hit was down low? and second of all drury DID NOT have the puck. Now if were going back to the rj hit from campbell, rj clearly had the puck but in this case drury did not. Also what is not clear to me is how murray makes up an excuse saying "his helmet wasn't on tight" well whoever is playin hockey gonna tie there chin strap to the bottum of there chin so there pretty much cant talk to communicate with the team? Also in the big brawl the emotion in that arena was so high. It was to get back at the sens. I mean the sabres team has soo much chemistry who wouldn't.
So the NHL is fining lindy ruff is unbelievable especially when chris neil started the whole controversy. The whole ottawa team is pretty much is still mad about the playoffs where they can't produce. Last year was a joke. And this season they were leading the series 4-1 then the 6th game gaustad got hurt for the rest of the season and now this game drury got hurt for who knows how long.Again going back to the playoffs in '06 where connolly got hurt and was and still is out for most of this season. This tells me alot about this team and the type of game they play.

As a regular viewer of Coach's Corner, i have heard repeatedly from Don Cherry how the shoulder pads that the players wear today are like weapons...he has called on the league to do something about the shoulder to head hits..now if i know this..an old lady from buffalo...don't the players playing the game realize this as well? Can you really say that Neil did not intend to injure Drury? Also i still think it was a late blindside hit.

Late hit, shoulder high? One can argue both ways. Intent to injure? again another topic for debate. Desperate hockey from a team that was in all NHL circles Stanley Cup 'contenders'? My concern Mr.
Morrison, is for you to try KEEPING YOUR HEAD UP and swiveling it around 360 degrees on an ice rink. Other than a 'loose' chin strap (if it were tighter it would have choked him), you cannot put liability on Drury because he did not see Neil behind his left ear. YOU are sitting in a press box 100 feet above the rink, assuming you were at the game--how is your peripheral vision?? In actual fact, Drury's head was up AS NEIL WAS ABOUT TO MAKE THE HIT. Morrison, why don't you join the GM meetings on their next meeting and suggest that no players EVER, EVER have their head down when they shoot the puck (or for a goalie, make a save), otherwise face suspension for violating your suggestions? Tonight when you go to sit down and pull up a chair from the press boxes, remember ... keep your head up!

"Legal" hit??? That's not the point. Is this the kind of sport you want your kids playing? In our typical Canadian town there are 3x as many kids playing soccer . . . hockey is going the way of the Dodo.

In minor hockey, where hitting is allowed, there are minor (and major) concussions happening on a regular basis.

Blah, blah, blah, I've heard the arguments about starting hitting earlier in hockey, etc. But when there's a foot difference in height between same age kids there's no way to avoid injuries with "legal" hitting.

You can argue all you want but parents are voting with their feet. Hockey is dying . . . and kneejerks like Morisson are killing it.

Good luck to Spezza, Heatley etc.
If I was one of the Ottawa talent, I would tell Neil that his head hunting is not appreciated. It is not Neil that will be the centre of attention from the other team's goons. When Spezza etc get injured from retaliation, whether tonight or in the future, is will be a direct result of Neil's action.

I like bone crunching hits but Neil's hit to Drury's head was cowardly and pathetic. It was clearly an attempt to injure. The NHL has to protect their players from blatant hits to the head. What happened to respecting a fellow NHL player? Where is the NHLPA's comments?

how can you not say that wasnt a cheap shot. He came from the blind side and used his elbow. When will the league learn to protect the elite players of this league. Had that happened to wayne gretzky everyone would screaming cheap shot, but because its drury no one cares. I am no means a chris drury fan either or sabres fan but if we continue to allow this type of play continue guys like crosby or ovechkin for example wont be playing long careers in this league. If Mr Bettman or Mr Campbell dont want enforcers in the league then maybe they should protect the elite players better

Keep his head up?!! His head was up, and looking towards the play. Did you even watch the video? Those complaining about the helmet strap need to look closely at the video - looks to me like Neil's shoulder undid the strap. In the replay the strap is clearly undone as the helmet flies ten feet in the air. The helmet coming off was just bad luck aided by a cheap and intentional head-shot by Neil.

Neil clearly could have connected shoulder to shoulder on that check but chose to hook his shoulder around to catch Drury in the jaw. Just watch the video. Neil goes out of his way to catch him in the head. Even the guys who are "the top hitters in the league" need to take a pass on that kind of opportunity.

anyone who thinks that there is no intent to injur/hurt another player when you hit them is dreaming in technicolor! there is an old NHL axiom: In the regular season they hit to hurt you in the playoffs they hit to take you out. Neil is mean and hard. He likes the rpough stuff it got him to the NHL. he is also a a good shot, and a fair stick handler too. He's upped his game in every level this year, But he still loves to mix it up and cause some pain. was the hit clean? Definatley. was it late? marginally but not more than a million other late hits I've seen. was it from behind? maybe a little. was it the right thing to do? absolutley. The Sens lost to Buffalo last year and they are chasingbuffalo and in a tight playoff race. as a coach and player you want intensityand spirit. yyou want your grinders to go out and punnish the other team. It's sad dude got hurt but hey he stepped on to the ice and the chin strap thing was loose

I watch the Nhl regularly
in Germany. What I saw the last
weeks is that the games get more physical which caused more injurys.
I think this ist not the way it should be because Hockey ist such
interesting sport.

Whether or not this hit was legal to me is not even the issue. This game may have been the best televised hockey in close to ten years that I have seen, if anything due to the intensity of the situation. And the best part is, the rematch tonite I would be willing to bet will be the most viewed game of the season. I am not for shots in the head by any means, and from all the replays I have seen, I honestly could not tell whether the hit was clean or not. Drury does not see Neil, this much is true. It is semi from behind as Neil comes from an extremely blind angle on Drury. The hit could be construed as a late hit, or just a finished check. Regardless, I don't think that Lindy Ruff was wrong for his response, nor do I think Brian Murray was wrong for his. It was just pure emotion, and it was reminiscent of a hit laid on Gretzky when he was with the oilers (in which his head was down), and the response from Marty McSorley let alone the rest of the Oilers bench was absolutely incredible. Its not about whether the hit was legal or not, nor is it about suspensions, or even fines. Suspensions and fines are what is ruining the game. Its about buffalo for sticking up for themselves when challenged, and Ottawa doing the same. I hope that more games like this are in the works for many other rivalry teams, as it may have produced in my opinion one of the best games of the season.

I was one of the fortunate 18K+ in attendance at the Buffalo-Sens rumble. Our seats were about 8 feet from the glass where Drury got smoked and no one was thinking late hate. From day one we are taught to skate with our heads up. Drury wasn't looking and he paid with a clean check in open ice. The bottom line is that bodychecks are designed to hurt. Anyone who can't get past this has neither played the game or understands it. If the league is concerned about the ridiculous notion of head shots they must address equipment changes. The speed of the game is such that the idea of aiming for a specific part (head) is rediculous. Nine times out of ten you are lucky to make good contact period. If anyone is serious about reducing injuries, they must reduce players protective "body armour" because it is the cause. Taking a hit should hurt. Throwing a check or hit should hurt as well. There is a poetic balance of pain that keeps it equal and fair. If the league thinks designing "new jerseys" that are water proof is their top priority, (for marketing to us fans), than they are negligent. Surely they can design shoulder pads that protect the hitter as well as the target. Why they made helmets manditory still baffles me. If your not going to do them up what is the point? All in all, no one wants to see anyone seriously hurt as in the case of Drury, but that game in Buffalo was the best regular season match-up that I have ever seen in my 40+ years. Chris Neil said last week that "he hits to hurt." Anyone who says otherwise is a liar or a figure skater.

hit looked clean to me

It all boils down to one simple problem that the NHL has. It is called player safety. If they can't figure out that a blow to the head can be the cost of a person's career (or life), then issues like the one in Buffalo will continue to surface. But it will eventually happen where someone will lose their life and NHL officials will stick their heads in the sand like they always do.

Perhaps this was a clean hit and yes it is legal, but lets face the fact that the NHL does not understand the element of player safety. In Football , tackling is part of the game. Grabbing the facemask on a tackle is a penalty. The NFL and the CFL get it. In hockey, hitting is part of the game. Slamming a players head into the boards or an open ice hit directly towards the head although legal right now, should be outlawed. In my opinion, unless the NHL does something toward a polocy about safety, concussions will continue to exist. Why should a player have to risk his hockey career on something like this? Do we have to wait until one player loses his life because of an unnecessary hit to the head?

I love a big hit as much as the next guy. This hit was not a bodycheck, but rather a shoulder to the head. The issue should be why the NHL rules still allow the Neil hit on Drury. The fact that it was a shoulder, not an elbow, is irrelevant. It was a direct blow to the head. Even the NFL penalizes and suspends players for blows to the head. You want to be a major sport, act like it!

The injury wasn't caused by Neil's shoulder or elbow for that matter, the injury was sustained when Drury's loosely tied down helmet easily sprung off and when his head hit the ice. When will players realize that safety equipement is there to protect and that they shouldn't alter it to be more comfortable or to look cooler. Tighten those helmets and there will be less heads slamming to the ice like Drury's. Clean hit for Neil.

Drury's head was only down until he released the puck--it had come up as Neil was approaching. Watch youtube video, not our biased sportscasts in the area, Neil knew it was an advantageous situation (right or wrong). It's open season on the Sabres (pretty soon, Rochester), and I don't think Cherry will be up in arms as someone wrote. Cherry will simply say it's unfortunate that Drury is out. What Cherry will be wrong in saying tonight (as Bill Watters was the other evening) is that Ottawa "won the battle". As if the Senators are going to win the cup. If Ottawa could not defeat a depleted Sabres lineup (Buffalo just called up an ex-Ottawa 67 junior, named Mancari), our supposed experts on CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet haven't been following too much hockey this season.
Could you blame Lindy Ruff for sending out players on the next shift to let Brian Murray and the Senators know that the same hit is not likely to happen again? Brian Murray should have had another grinder line on instead of their top line. I give much credit for Ray Emery (one of the best goalies in the league in my book), of whom the rest of the team abondoned in last year's playoffs and apparently did the same in this last game. Emery can certainly fight and did well to hold his own. See you in the playoffs! (Yes, I AM CANADIAN--and a SABRES FAN, who cheers for the hardest working team in the league!!!).

I would be ashamed to be a fan of the Buffalo Sabres right about now. You sound like a bunch of babies who can't take a hit. Every single one of you would be loving that highlight if it was not Drury. If this is a dirty hit and Neil should be reprimanded then Phaneuf should be expelled from the league. Scott Stevens entire career should be re-examined. I think Kariya is a star player, I think Lindros is a start player. Didn't stop Stevens. And about as much time elapsed between Kariya moving the puck and being smashed to ice as the Drury incident the other night. But Stevens got praise for that, and everyone here and in Buffalo remember that hit from the Stanley Cup Finals, and LOVED it!
Oh, and Don Cherry, before you go criticizing Neil, just remember how proud you were of Tie Domi when he did the exact same thing to Martin Havlat at the start of the playoffs a few years back. Well not the exact same thing because I think three seconds passed before Domi decked Havlat without the puck.
Buffalo Sabres fans should be ashamed right now. What Lindy Ruff did after was stupid, but no big deal. But he is the conducter of this whine band, and you are following him like a bunch of cowards. Grow up. That's hockey.

What?! Drury should keep his head up?! His head WAS UP!!! Neil came from behind and forced his shoulder into his head! I realize it lacked the elbow to make it dirty, and that his helmet was loose, but don't you ever accuse him of not having his head up! Dru had just shot the puck- What? should he have shot the puck, and then quickly spun around to see which dork is skating hard at him FROM BEHIND preparing to BLIND SIDE him?!! If you'd have just shot the puck you'd watch to see if it went in the net- right? That's what I thought. HIS HEAD WAS UP! Neil was with out a doubt trying to hurt Dru- he knew the situation here, with our guys dropping like flies on a nightly basis- you don't think he'd like to take advantage of that and go after our leader? It was dumb of him to do, and he's only hurting the game.

This was a very irresponsible article. Head up? When he just fired the puck with a follow thru and Neil is coming at an angle with a blind side? More amazing... that people actually then agree with you.

Either way... to knock out the captain and star of a team and leave him bloodied on the ice is totally unnacceptable. Can't believe the outcries of "how wrong Lindy Ruff was to send his goons after Ottawa's skilled players." SHAME on Murray for send the skilled players out on the next shift! What was the Sabres supposed to do?! Let it go ??? Ridiculous ! They now have EIGHT regulars out... TWO of which (Connoly and Drury) is courtesy of the cowardly Ottawa Senators who whine and turtle like wimps instead of handle things like men and face up to their crimes of head hunting an opponent's star player! PATHETIC!

Chris: 'People need to realize the difference between an attempt to injure and hurt...'

I agree Chris, and we (by we I mean people who, unlike you and Scott Morrison, use logic) can clearly tell Chris Neil attempted to injure Drury. You dilute the facts in implying Neil's actions simply as a 'hit' by equating it with a hit you may place while playing hockey (when you hit you don't intend to injure therefore when anyone hits they don't intend to injure, just hurt). I'll stick with the specific facts..
Fact: Chris Neil went out of his way to hit Drury (i.e. he was not on a collision course, was not 'finishing his check'...)
Fact: Drury did not have the puck and everyone, including Neil, knew this
Fact: Chris Neil knowingly came at Drury from behind
Fact: Chris Neil intentionally raised his shoulder up and into Drury's chin .
So Chris, if you want your equation to stand you would need to say: 'When I play hockey I knowingly go out of my way to go at another player (who does not have the puck) from behind while intentionally throwing my shoulder up and into their chin. When I do this I do not intend/attempt to injure them.'

I know people are going to dismiss this post because they see I'm from Buffalo and therefore I must be biased. whatever. Watch the video, judge the facts. Are the Sabres never wrong? No. You want to argue Afinegenov's punching a guy while he's down is dirty, I'll agree, you want to argue that Peca's hit he put on Domi in the playoffs was dirty because Peca waited a half second to get out of the box, I'll agree. Peters going at it with Emery? uncalled for. Briere's and Roy's diving? pathetic....but if you want to argue Neil's hit is o.k. and/or Drury shares some responsibility and/or float the idea (Morrison) that we can't know someone's intent unless they actually tell us then you are asking me to, like you, check my brain at the door and pay no attention to the facts.

thanks for the opportunity to give my take.

Chris Neil is a thug and hitting someone in the head, whether legal or not, is stupid.
This reminds me of the Naslund/Moore/Bertuzzi incident.

I am interested to watch Saturday's game and see a hood for Buffalo "legally" nail Spezza or Heatley in the head. Fairplay isn't it?

NHL should suspend Neil. If they don't, then something bad will occur.

hey morrison... if his head is up, he probably gets a concussion before his head hits the ice. there's no way drury could have seen him coming from the angle he came at. neil suckered him. but it is legal according the nhl. i have no problem with the hit because it is not blatently illegal. it is part of hockey. i do get a kick out of how any canadian response to any of these type of issues is always the same. it becomes a canadian team versus a US team, regardless of what player is involved. it is as laughable as bryan murray whining about the 5 "goons" on the ice. tallinder, lydman, and kaleta... yep, real tough guys. plus, murray should get the marbles out of his mouth before he speaks.

The hit was late. Refs have called penalties for such hits in the past. Was Neal trying to injure Drury, I don't think so, but it was cheap shot that injured a player. How is that hit any different from a player running another into the boards and getting called for boarding or roughing? And Murray's postgame comments of Drury not wearing his helmut correctly shows that he is blindly defending his players. I wonder if Jason Peters ran Dany Heatley's head into the ice would Murray and the rest of the Senators sit back and say "good hard hockey hit. He should have had his head up". It was a bad incident but what may be worse is the NHL's lack of any stance on this right now. These two teams play in less than 24 hrs and no statement, decisions on suspensions, or warnings, have come from the league office. Bettman is weak. If they are waiting for something to happen without taking action, it will.

I hae lost all respect for scott Morrision. It was a late,dirty cheap shot form a crap player.

Well bias is evident. But please explain
to me according to the rules why the hit was legal. Does the rule read " If a player gets hit and his head is down the hit is legal"

The hit was legal, the injury unfortunate. However, let's focus on the what really led to the injury. Upon impact, Drury's helmet came flying off and his unprotected head hit the ice causing the cut and possible concussion. A player (and his team and/or insurance company perhaps) should assume some responsibility to ensure that (a) the helmet fits properly, and (b) the helmet strap is fastened to prevent it from flying off. You don't see NASCAR or F-1 drivers racing with shields up and helmet unfastened. Protect your noggin'! (...and keep your head up when Neil, Stevens or other physical players are on the ice).

Was the check legal or illegal? Lets's see...
If you were watching the broadcast I was it was played abouyt 30 times over and slowed right down. There was no elbow, it was a clean shoulder that did the damage. Now look at today's shoulder pads, the dam things look like football shoulder pads and it's like getting hit with a brick, so will it cause a concussion, dam right it will! But the players wear them because the boards in the league are not all flexible like they once were and they need more protection. Was the Hit from behind? no it was on a angle. Because he had just made the shot he was leaning forward and thus got hit in the head, so I don't think there was intent to injure. Was it a late hit? Sorry folks, they also showed a replay showing the elapsed time from when the shot left the stick to impact and ran the timer on it....less than 1 second. I'm sorry, but lets look at facts here. Neil is the hits leader in the league and in all those hits has anyone ever been hurt intentionally before last night? NO, he simply doesn't play like that. He had his head down after taking the shot and Neil followed through with the check. Unfortunate but true. Lindy Ruff was right to send someone out to make a statment, but he went overboard by instructing his players to go head hunting and should be repremanded by the league.

Violence is, no doubt, part of hockey's immense attraction. But unchecked, it threatens to convert a beautiful sport into a farce -- something that may hold your attention in spurts but ultimately turns stale all too fast. The fact is that Neil obviously knew that Drury was vulnerable and had not carried the puck for a measurable period of time. This, to me, is the definition of a dirty hit. Neil and everyone else in the arena were surely aware that an injury was the almost inevitable result. If those who believe otherwise prevail and hockey chooses not to protect its players, then they will someday have to explain themselves to the many players and families whose lives will be forever altered. In the end, Drury is the future of a healthy NHL. Neil is a throwback to the worst of the NHL's past.

Although the hit was a bit of a blindside, I agree with Ryan from Saskatoon: Drury would have been woosy but he would not have been cut if his chin strap had been tight. Best Check I ever saw was by Larry Robinson on Anton Stasny in the '87 playoffs, and you know what? It was the exact same hit! No penalty there either, which was the correct call.

Either his head was down , and not paying
attention , or just as worse, his head was up
and admiring his pass ( shot ?) . Either way
poor attention to play . Chris Neil had
committed himself to the hit . It was a
shoulder, and no elbow applied. It can get
nasty out there . You cannot compare this to
the Todd Bertuzzi affair. That incident was
premeditated and brewed over time. I hope
Buffalo and Ottawa got it out of their system
and go back hockey. It's hockey , nothing more . It won't be the last time for this type of incident .

I don't really like Ottawa except Heatley,Vermette,Fisher and Spezza and like someone said below, since the Leafs and Habs are poSSibly(Habs are still in and so are the Leafs)out of playoffs, it seem like that teams like Ottawa or the Penguins are somehow helped by the officials.If Ottawa delivered some kind of illegal hit or make some flagarant fault,it seem like the officials dind't saw anything of that(and they are 4)and 30 secs later the other team make the same kind of fault and there goes a 2mins power play and same for the Penguins,it seem like because the got big guns and the league is trying to sell hockey in the States,the Pens receive some kind of 'divine' helped and at the critical time of the game.
As for saturday,hopefully Buffalo will beat Ottawa(a pounding of Ottawa would be great) cause i really Vanek,Brière,Drury,Pominville,Afignenov....actually i like the hole team and if Ottawa was to face Buffalo,i wish Buffalo will have the upper-hand like last year.
Go Buffalo
Go Habs
And even go Leafs...I rather wish them good luck then to Ottawa.I let you judge how much i don't like the to flashy'did you see me' Sens that i prefer the Leafs to Ottawa.

Drury's head was up and Neil went out of his way from behind to try and hurt him. Watch the replay. There's a follow-thru that has his elbow parallel to the ice. That's why some people thought it Was an elbow. Why isn't there an 'unnessary roughness' penalty in hockey!?! Whether you thought it was
"legal" or not; you can't deny that it was unnessary. I've committed this kind of "hurt" in a game. Believe me, Neil was intentional, dirty and premeditated. It's premeditated because if it wasn't; you'd get hurt, too. Like Knuble hitting Shanahan.

For all the psychoanalysts here that know what Chris Neil was thinking when he hit Drury. Neil was yelling "You're next!" to Danny Briere after the hit. Obviously no intent to injure there.

But heck...who would want to watch a Briere play when you can watch a Neil. That's entertainment huh??

I could fire a puck at your face when you lie down to block a shot. Just because the opportunity to hurt someone "legally" arises doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. The hit was a little late because if Niel didn't wait he would've got Drury from behind. He was purposeful and cheap, but it was a "legal" hit and the Sabres, minus Andrew Peters, responded exactly the way any team should. The league would only screw it up by intervening. I'm sure the teams will figure it all out for us Saturday.

It's funny, leagal hit guys say look at the hit in real time, halifax guy says look at slomo for how he was bloodied. Late hit, puck was gone. Intent to injure. Case closed, what are you guys drinking up there? One more thing Halifax guy should be embarrased for his comments, real players come to the defense of your brothers.

Chris Neil is a second rate player who picks his spots, he is an untalented player who turtles when anyone tough stands up to him. The hit was late,the NHL has to do something about hits of late nature and on defenseless
players. I thought with the rule changes we would see more skating and skilled players and less of the Chris Neils, this was a great game and becoming a great rivalry. BOOOOO Senators, go Sabres

I agree totally. What's one of the first things you learn in minor hockey : Don't watch your shot and keep your head up!! The hit was perfectly legal and I think Chris Neil is one of the best hitters in the leauge. By the way is there any way of getting a copy of that game? Has to be the game of the year thus for for sure!

I don't think Neil's intention was to injure, but to send a message. Any hockey fan should be proud to see that by a CLEAN hit from their team.

Campbell's hit on Umberger last year was clean. The hit Connolly took in the playoffs last year was clean, although it may have ended his career. Nobody, especially Lindy Ruff, complained about that.

Neil's hit was not clean. You can watch the replay a million times and argue over how many miliseconds late is was, or if he hit him with an elbow (which he didn't). But the combination of the puck being long gone, Drury turning away, and Neil driving through with his shoulder to Drury's head. If Neil had another foot, it looked like it would have been an elbow to the head instead of shoulder based on his follow through.

It doesn't matter if Drury has a concussion, or if it's a no-name taking that hit. There is no place for cheap shots like that anymore. I've seen Neil take runs at people's head in the past and he should be reprimanded beyond a penalty. He's having a great year on a great line and doesn't have to play dirty to send his message.

And it is no coincidence that Neil took the shot to Drury, the captain, and a key player for Buffalo. Nobody, especially Murray, should compain about Buffalo reacting the way they did after the play.

I hope Saturday night is rough, but clean. The only positive out of the play is that helps build an evolving rivalry between these teams. I don't think it should have to come at the expense of Chris Drury's health though.

Great point Adam,

You are absoutley correct to other Senators were closer and moved away from Drury and toward the play. Cheap Hit!!!! but what else could we expect from the Sens. That's the type of game they play.

Pete: the Sens self destructed last season, If it hadn't been for the rash on injuries
(a couple of which were do it cheap shots) the cup would have been the Sabres' last year

This, "helmet strapped on poorly" is equivelent to there being a lone gunman. I bet these people still believe we never landed on the moon that it was all staged in hollywood. Helmet or no, he came from a blind side, and intended to take him out. And if you hit someone like that expect retaliation don't about how you did nothing wrong. Take the licks like everyone else. We got hit, we fought back, we won and we move on. Everything else is letting off steam.

The hit was not immediate; after Drury passed the puck it took Neil 3 strides for him to reach Drury. Get real, the Senators were head hunting all night and they succeeded.

I wasn't surprised when Neil was not penalized; the officiating had been one-sided all night.

To Chris from Calgary: first of all, THE main reason for a bodycheck is hockey is to take your opponent off the puck so that you or a teammate can get possession - not to intimidate and "hurt" them so that they play the rest of the game in fear. Obviously your brand of hockey differs quite a bit from the way the game was intended to be played. The hit was uncalled for, and it's not the first time Neil has done something like this. When players are vulnerable, lay off. There's nothing wrong with a good hard check on a guy with the puck, but in this case Drury didn't have it. We (as fans) don't need this B.S. in the game, and Neil deserves whatever he gets on Saturday night.

The hit itself was a clean hit. Shoulder connected not the elbow. However, the timing of the hit was what was questionable. Late hit according to NHL? no. but Neil had more than enough time to pull up and not hit Drury. Of course thats not how the game is played. You hit when you can. But you can't fault the Sabres for following up the way they did. Their leading goal scorer and captain took a nasty hit and they responded. Thats also how the game is played. Look at last season when RJ Umberger was layed out by Brian Campbell. The Flyers responded by fighting... its what makes hockey so exciting.

Short Version: Neil hit - Legal, Questionable, Part of the game. Sabres response - illegal, commendable, Part of the game.

Pete, Dan, et al. if you watch the clock on the replay, the mins and secs do not change from the time Drury shoots the puck, until his gets his bell rung by Neil. (Less than 1 Second) If you are near the puck, expect to be knocked into next week. Unless you are 5-6 years old. Oh yeh, it is real cool to have a loose chin strap on your helmet, duh. Come on folks, you are Pros making millions, not in a house league with your head down. 10 year olds know better than that.

Like it or not, there is a widely held and supported view in the NHL today that superstars should be above the treatment of journeyman players. This is why they get injured.

Most grinders know that if they make blind turns into the direction of defenders they are going to get their bells rung, and the fans will stand up and cheer at the hit.

Past superstars, like the Rocket and Gordie Howe, were players who excelled within the standard of play. Many modern superstars seem to excel only when the unofficial rules are changed so that they can take more risks without expecting the natural consequences.

Perhaps the league should take advantage of their new marketing initiative and allow six players on each team to wear pink jerseys and play unhindered by defensive action. Then we can watch hundreds of boring all-star games before the real season begins in April.

Please, I would invite all to take a closer look at the replay... Drury's head was in fact "up". His pass was away; therefore, one should not "have" to protect himself from this kind of hit. I know, you're saying, "but it was a legal hit". Well, bad non-call. As for the league... My God, when are they going to learn? All head shots, should be a penalty, period. When...WHEN?... is the NHL going to wake up and make simple moves that will really improve the game we love? Consequently, improving the marketability of the game. Stars, people, stars... they are the players we want on the ice... not in the ER!

This article is 100% accurate. Clearly the hit was legal. His elbow came up WAY after contact which is pretty normal on the follow thru after a hit. Clearly Drury did not have his head up or his helmet fastened correctly (you learn that at 12 yrs of age when hitting starts). Neil coasted into the hit from 15 feet away and made contact immediately after the puck was released. THAT IS LEGAL. Clearly the main objections to this hit are from people who've never played hockey (or quit at 12 when hitting started). I cant believe the unsportsmanlike response from Buffalo after the hit. THAT was appalling!

Gents,

The sole purpose of a check is to separate the player from the puck. If the puck left his stick - it's not a legal check. Had the puck been in his possession - yeah - it looked fairly clean.

RP

People need to realize the difference between and attempt to injure and hurt. When I hit someone while playing hockey, I want that hit to hurt. I want them to be slow to get off the ice, be bruised and sore. That way the next time that player has the puck he is focused on where I am as opposed to trying to score. It is intimidation and it is one of the main purposes of hitting in hockey. Did Neil want to hurt Drury? You bet. But did Neil attempt to injure Drury? I don't think so. I've seen many hits similar to this one and it is only the injurious result which has people in arms.

Head up? To see that hit coming Drury would have to have been looking over his shoulder! Neil came at Drury at an angle that was away from the puck action. To say that his head was down is ignorant.

Regardless, Neil could have hit Drury squarely on his shoulder and blasted him cleanly. Instead he slid his shoulder around Drury's body and drove this same shoulder up through Drury's jaw/face.

Legal? Yes, but's isn't it essentially the same thing as throwing an elbow? Neil was out of line.

And the Sens still LOST to the AHL Rochester Amerks.

The popular comment is that Neil's hit on Drury was just after his shot was let go and was clean. Watch the video and you'll see that the puck had already hit the end boards and that Neil hit Drury from behind. Suspension ? No !!
Dirty play ? Yes ! Penalty ? Depends who the teams are. Typical inconsistent NHL.

It wasn't 3-4 seconds later, it was less than a second. I'm not making any sort of judgment on whether it was dirty or late hit but Pete from US needs to realize that 3-4 seconds is an eternity in hockey, and exagerations like that completely undermine his position.

I don't see how the hit is legal, Drury has clearly already played the puck, then Neil catches up to him, changes direction and hits him. The hit would have been legal if it wasn't late.

It wasn't 3-4 seconds later, it was less than a second. I'm not making any sort of judgment on whether it was dirty or late hit but Pete from US needs to realize that 3-4 seconds is an eternity in hockey, and exagerations like that completely undermine his position.

that hit was a very vicious hit on 1 of our star players. chris neil is a canadain and plays 4 a canadian team so u defend him. sad

"Keep your head up" is stupid. Too many head injuries occur in this sport, unlike any other sport. The NFL requires helmets to help protect the players, and with the velocity of impact comparable, if not greater in the NHL, the NHL should help protect players with a no hit to the head penalty. Really, is boarding a penalty, yes. So what's the difference if a player gets hurt because they didn't see it coming?

If this kind of hit was legal, there is something wrong with the rules. Pro football has added a number of rules to reduce intentional injuries, and hockey should follow suit. I want to see good hockey, not witness a felony.

Why is it that when a played of Drury's caliber is hurt, it is automatically the hitters fault?

Drury wasn't paying attention to what was going on around him, Neil came in, hit him with the shoulder, Drury's poorly strapped on helmet fell down, cut his forehead and it's his own fault.

The point was raised before about Neely and Stevens making the same hit and no one complained, and in fact, most of you probably cheered at the hit.

Just because Neil is not as big of a profile player as them, he gets ragged on.

Neil + Drury = Stevens + Lindros

If you want to suspend Neil, go back and suspend Stevens for his crushing hits.

Cheap hit. Rob from Halifax how about I hit you and see how you feel about 20 stitches. Bring your buddy Chris Neil with you as well!!

The hit was late, his elbow was down, but is was a good 3 - 4 seconds after the shot. It was pure frustration from Ottawa on what has been a disappointing season again. They should've won it all last season and should've been where Buffalo, Nashville, and Anaheim are. Lets see what happens SATURDAY!

Ross - I don't think the Sabres will find themselves with a quick elimination in the playoff. Chances are the Sabres will play your favorite team, and will most likely beat them. It's been a while since the Sabres have been on to like this, but remember house close the Sabres got last year... this year they REALLY mean it - to win the cup. We can't judge a season on one game (Stanley Cup), but the Sabres really are showing talent and structure in their games. Wins and PTS show it.

I wish all the Ovechkins, Malkins, Crosbys, Heatleys, and Sundins get knocked out by great players like Chris Neil. Then the last 2 or 3 people still watching NHL games will stop and we can spend more time watching sports that understand that keeping their stars playing is important.

The NHL isn't a spot on the NFL's radar screen. I wonder why? What could be more entertaining than watching a league full of Chris Neils lumbering up and down the ice looking for someone's head to knock off.

I think Moneymaker just checked to the bidder with a pair of pocket aces...

Some of your facts are a bit - how shall we put this.. Umm, WRONG.

1.) He was shooting and his head was down -

WRONG - He was passing the puck and his head indeed was up.

2.) The hit was legal -

WRONG - The hit was not legal. The hit was extremely late - well after the puck was passed. In fact if you watched the game you would have noticed Neil made the cut to lay the hit after the pass.

I'm sure if this was Sydney Crosby I imagine your article would be vastly different...

Darrell

Ross: Big difference here. Umberger had the puck, Drury didn't. It was obviously a late hit. Unfortunately, with both Toronto and Montreal possibly out of the playoffs, Ottawa has become golden child.

The hit was late and to the head. There was no reason to deliver that hit except to injure!

I think all the people who feel Chris Neil was out to injure are wrong. Was Chris Neil trying to hit Drury with a hard check? Yes.

Does anyone in the league go out on the ice with the intent to injure? I would highly doubt it.

Hockey is a game with hard hits, and players are trained to protect themselves. One thing you learn is to keep your chin up.

People watch the NFL because it is a contact sport and has just as many injuries and cheap shots just like hockey. Their penalties to protect the Quarterback are equivelent to the rules in hockey to protect the goalie. Injuries happen and it is exciting to see how a team responds.

Boo Hoo Hoo to you Lindy Ruff!! When Brian Campbell took out RJ Umberger in last years playoffs with a similar hit, I did not see you complaining about. As a matter of fact, you made mention of the legality of the hit. Comes around goes around buddy - can't wait to see the Sabres eliminated from the playoffs once again.

I watched the 6 minute ordeal of this on the internet as I missed the game on the tv. If you look at Chris Neil's stats for the season, you'll see he is leading the NHL with hits. That's his main job as well to provide assists and goals. Again, his job is more of a defensive role and to lay the hits. Enforcers are part of the game, and from the replay the check was clean. No penalty assosicated with it. That means 2 officials believed it was clean which means its clean. This type of injury happens and its unforunate. I believe that all you who are saying the check was dirty, should go watch some other games and other incidents this year. Everyone of you has a main team and I'm sure if the same thing happened with one of your players you would be defending them to the death. If you take physical contact out of professional hockey, I may as well go watch the 12 year olds play at my local rink. Just my $0.02

This sounds like a lot of complaining to me. I bet most of you that think the hit was to hard play basketball or tennis. Hockey is a violent sport. But it is also an incredibly beautiful sport. That it what makes it better than most other sports, it combines two of the most fundamental human elements. I played hockey for twenty years and since I was 5 years old every one of my coaches were repeatedly yelling "keep you head up." You have to be aware of everything that is going on the ice or you will get hurt.

Drury and his coach are simply being big babies. So you got hit hard when you were exposed, big deal. That is hockey. Should the defender have pulled up and not hit Drury because he may hurt him? Will all defenders now have to consider if the other player will get hurt before hitting them?

By the way, if he had a facemask we would not even be discussing this.

I see this as clear attempt to injure. The sad thing is, the NHL will not take action and it will continue to be looked upon as the second rate, bush league that it is. It's precisely why the WNBA and World Series of Poker have higher TV ratings than the NHL.

The NHL needs to take a lesson (or 100) from the NFL. Why do you think there are so many rules designed to protect the quarterback? Plainly, it's because people pay to see the leagues stars play.

Sadly, Chris Drury, one of the leagues stars, will be sitting in street clothes indefinitely while a piece of garbage, second rate player like Chris Neil continues to play. You, Mr Morrison, like Bettman and the rest of the NHL management, miss the point. This is not about what Drury should have done. This is about what Neil shouldn't have done and the league shouldn't allow. You and the few hundred people watching the game want to see the stars shine. The rest will be waiting to see whether Chris Moneymaker calls "all in" on a King high pair...

Sad...very sad...

Anyone who thinks sending the goon squad out for retribution should be part of the game need only look to the Bertuzzi incident to see why this element needs to be removed from the game.

Bertuzzi retaliated on Steve Moore for a hit on Marcus Naslund that was very similar to the Neil hit. The result was the end of Moore's career and much embarrassment for the game.

Yes, Drury should have had his head up and yes the hit was technically legal. However, the league has to come down serious head hits in the same manner that it does for serious stick infractions and the like. Only by sending a strong message (suspension/fine) to Neil will the league be able to eliminate goon retaliation.

In response to last night, the NHL should suspend Neil for 5 to 10 games. The suspension and fines should be even more severe to the Sabre players and Lindsay Ruff should be suspended without pay indefinately.

After all, who wants to pay $100 bucks a ticket to watch marginal players catch stars with their heads down at centre ice and then a bunch of guys who can barely skate chase down the other team's stars in retribution?

Was Chris Neil intending to injur Chris Drury??

Yes.

Therefore, its dirty.

Keep your head up? Are you serious? Drury had just taken a shot.

I guess the next time someone runs a stop sign and hits a child who is unaware, the traffic offender can say that its the kid's fault because you are supposed to look both ways before crossing the street.

Yeah, the hit was legal. I'm not even a Sabres fan, but as a hockey fan, I don't think it's wise (it is, in fact, dumb) for the league to deem hits like this to be legal. Professional sports leagues shouldn't make it this easy for its best players to get injured. It further diminishes an already talent-starved league. Fans want to see great players doing great things.

I would agree with Morison if only Neil hadn't had a history of bullying. in 362 games he's had over 900 PIM.

For example of my non-biased opinion i look at ovechkins hit on briere which was undeserving of suspension. ovechkin hit him from behind without intent of injury, it was just poor thinking on his part.

if i follow morison's theory about keeping your head up, then spacek was to blame when scott nichol sucker punched him because he wasn't facing the attacking player.

again, an example of non-biased opinion would be whe Jay Mckee was put out for a month when kasperitus hip checked him along the boards. perfectly, legal, clean hit, and a bad accident occured. But when intention can be found in history and chris neil is a dirty player. i would have been happier and less disappointed in the scoundrel if he'd of just dropped gloves, pulled drury around and decked him. at least then he wouldn';t be a coward on top of a scoudrel.

Drury's head was up. He was watching his pass that had crossed the goal line in the far corner of the rink when he was hit. He passed the puck from the high (and far) circle. Don't you think that the play had moved away from is area? I mean, come on, watch the replay, did the TWO other Sen players that were closer to Drury when he got rid of the puck "finish their check"? No, they were not the Neil types looking to change tne mo of the game for a desprate club that blew a two goal lead to a team with 6 regulars out of action. Keep your head up!?! KEEP THIS UP!!

Turn back the clock on the opportunity to lay a devastating hit, replace Mr. Chris Neil with another punishing hitter such as Hall of Famer Cam Neely (whose reputation may be less tainted than that of Mr. Chris Neil) and the end result would be the same. If you are an impact player who uses their hitting prowess to make space, you need to take each hit to its' maximum potential. Does somebody other than Gary Bettman think that Scott Stevens or Cam Neely would have backed off because the opponent may be injured? Then again, Mr. Bettman probably doesn't know who Messiurs Stevens and Neely are...

The title of your article is overly incendiary, however I have to agree with msot of your argument. Yet I have no doubt Chris Neil meant to hurt Drury. That's just his nature, and the nature of some one who is going to excel in Neil's role for the Sens.

But neither do I blame Ruff for sending out his goons against Spezza and company. You will get that response every time if someone takes advantage of your star player when he is in a vulnerable position.

Was the hit legal? Yes.
Was the response appropriate? Probably not, if you're Gary Bettman.
Would any other coach respond the same way? Of course.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with the title of this article.

When a professional hockey player like Neil lines up another professional player like Drury, for a bodycheck, he can expect that there will be a reaction by the player being hit: they turn, or put their hands up, or some other action to protect themselves.Neil had every reason to expect this from Drury, and can't be blamed for trying to hit him hard.Drury simply wasn't ready for it, but that's nobody's fault but his own.I'm sure he's been told from a very early age to keep his head up, like every other player, and especially ones who play at a high level.

And the really telling thing is that he was mostly injured from hitting his head on the ice because he was off balance when he fell.And the stitches he needed were from his poorly fastened helmet slipping down and cutting his forehead , not from the hit itself If you don't believe me, look at a slomo of the hit, it's undeniably what happened, Neil's elbow never hits Drury's head.The impact was on his shoulder.

Probably, if his helmet had been on properly, he might have escaped without real injury.

Lindy Ruff should be embarrased for his actions and childish behavior.

Possibly the worst headline/article published on the whole situation. Neil was clearly trying to injure Drury. Everyone whines that the NHL doesn't get the press in deserves. Well it won't when superstars are taken out by nobodys like Chris Neil. Neil was head hunting and came across the ice because he wanted to hit Drury in the head when he wasn't looking.

The hit had nothing to do with the game, and by not suspending Neil the NHL is showing why they are known as the worst run league in all of pro sports.