Colin Campbell & Gary Bettman Are Smoking Crack!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I was 100% shocked when I heard that Scott Walker was only receiving a $2,500 fine and no suspension. Shortly after hearing that, I called my father and had a very interesting conversation with him. I was not aware of a specific rule that both Campbell and Bettman overruled or simply didn't care about. Please see below:

47.22 Fines and Suspensions – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) - A player or goalkeeper who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime, shall automatically be suspended for one game. The Director of Hockey Operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties.

That is taken directly from the NHL rule book, which can be found using this link. http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26336. I can't believe there is a specific rule that demands and automatic one game suspension and the NHL brass decided it didn't matter. Like my father said, this is one of the major reasons why the NHL, and professional hockey, is a joke compared to the other major sports. They are gutless for not removing a marginal Hurricanes player from their lineup for even 1 game. Ridiculous. I really can't believe it. 

What's impressive though, is that Aaron Ward is going to play tonight. Of course he'll have a cage, but that is just pure guts and determination. Aaron Ward must be the anti-JD Drew. The Bruins need to keep their heads tonight and not go after Walker. I know that's hard for most hockey and Bruins fans to hear, but they can't go out and put a bounty on Walker and lose a player for the remainder of Game 6 and potentially Game 7. If they can do that, they will withstand the ear shattering RBC Center and come back to Boston for Game 7.

Once again, Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell are spineless. Here's to hoping the B's win tonight, blow out the Canes in Game 7 and finish the series with a face pounding for Jason Walker.