So what's the ideal situation here? You want the team to stop playing as hard when the clock is running down? It's definitely boarding, there's no question there, but intent? I don't see intent to injure here at all. Prove that there was intent with just the video, because that's all the NHL can really account for in their reviews. You can argue all day that he was getting revenge for Scheifele but with only video it becomes a case of objectivity.
People aren't defending the hit necessarily, the most common argument that I've read is that Grzelcyk made it worse by turning away from it.
ah yes, the old "made it worse by turning argument."
even if you are correct, it still does not make it a clean or smart hit.
a D-man boarded a forward behind his own net as the clock expired. he comes from the left D and skates into the right corner.
Morrissey's also a smart player, so he likely knew how much time was/wasn't on the clock.
if you don't see the malicious intent here, i don't know what else i can say.
i love the Jets but when Trouba was headhunting last season, i hated it and hated him for it. What Morrissey did yesterday was 100% wrong. zero justification. none. not only did it almost cost his team points, but it may have injured a player.
it's just a gross hit, plain and simple. Yes, Grz made it worse - much worse - with his spin and duck move, but i don't know how you can't argue that there was intent to hurt (not necessarily injure) and it was done with zero consequence on the play.
the Bruins' guys are actually balanced in what they say. yes, Grz ducked but Morrissey is still accountable for what he did