No suspension for Hossa - 04-25-10

Blackhawks forward and former Penguin Marian Hossa will not be suspended for a dangerous hit from behind on Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis late in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series between Chicago and Nashville, Saturday.

The hit in question:

Hossa was given a five-minute boarding major for the hit. He would return to the game to score the winning goal in overtime. Hamhuis was not seriously injured on the play.

EN Says: Just more inconsistency from the offiice of NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell. Just over a month ago, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was suspended for a very similar hit to Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell:

Brian Campbell suffered shoulder and torso injuries and missed over a month of action.

The only differences between the two is the end result and when the hit occurred. Hamhuis was thankfully not nearly as seriously injured as Brian Campbell. And the NHL takes the end result into consideration when figuring out a punishment.

That's way too reactive of an approach if you ask us. The action, not the result, should be punished. Why wait until someone is injured? Why not try to prevent it?

Second, the Ovechkin hit occurred in the postseason. Hossa's occurred in the playoffs. Come playoff time, you have to really mess an opponent up to get Colin Campbell do something. The NHL essentially changes or alters its own rules come postseason time and allows for a lot more in terms of physical play.

And utlimately, Hossa's a star. He's going to get more leeway than say Dustin Byfuglien. If Byfuglien delivers that hit, he's gets a fine at the very least.

Just another day in the absurd world of the NHL's hierachy.