[panoo]

Canadian Press
Published: Sunday, February 04, 2007

MONTREAL (CP) - Sidney Crosby is no longer sure what he's supposed to do when he takes a stick in the face.

Crosby was high-sticked in the lip by Francis Bouillon late in the third period of the Montreal Canadiens' 4-3 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The infraction went uncalled by referees Chris Rooney and Dave Jackson and Crosby took a long time getting up off the ice before slowly skating back to the Penguins bench.

Upon his arrival there, Canadiens enforcer Aaron Downey started yelling at the 19-year-old superstar while derisive chants of "Faker, Faker" rained down from the upper reaches of the Bell Centre.

"He told me not to go down, so I told him that if he gets a stick in the face we'll see how tough you are, we'll see if you don't go down," Crosby said of his conversation with Downey. "It's funny how you get a high stick and you're not supposed to go down any more."

When asked to relate what exactly happened on the play in question, Crosby sternly replied, "If you see the replay, I think you should see it."

For his part, Downey said his little chat had the desired affect.

"I can't give away any secrets, but it worked," Downey said. "Agitating is part of my game. I told him that if you're going to be a superstar in this league, you shouldn't be acting like that."

FULL STORY

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

Yes, that should have beena penalty. The refs must have missd that one.

 

[habschick]

It was a high-stick but could Crosby have embellished it anymore?

 

[PensRule]

Cant disagree with the embelishment by Crosby. I thought someone shot him from the rafters. But in his defense a lot of players(superstars) do the same thing. I also think Crosby has been getting frustated from all the recent non-calls. That is the third incident not called in recent games(two against Montreal and J. Blake) and there has been a some called. So he has been taking a bunch of lumber as of late. But that was the first time I seen the high-sticks actually effect his game in a negative way. He mostly feeds off that and goes harder but he missed two open nets and was trying way too hard on several occasions. I cant wait for the next time they play. It should be a good one.

 

[habschick]

IMO the refs probably realize by now that Crosby fakes pretty much everything. Like Downey said : I don't remember seeing stars like Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky and even Ovechkin doing the stuff he does. He has enough talent there really is no need for the way acts.

I also think Crosby has been getting frustated from all the recent non-calls. That is the third incident not called in recent games(two against Montreal and J. Blake) and there has been a some called.

I don't see how anyone would expect the Blake and Lapierre incidents to be called. I really can't even believe the way he went down on both of those...and then he gets back up and starts screaming at both of them when he realises there was no call.
As for the recent non calls. The penguins got away with so much the past 2 games they played against the habs. The refs pretty much handed them the games with the non calls and phantom calls.

 

[PensRule]

From one homers view to another.

Ive seen M. Lemeuix drop on a high stick just like I have seen just about every superstar in the league going down like a sack of bricks with the slightest touch. Look at Koivu who did a dive from a hook that on replay barely touched him. Just like Crosby said you would also fall if you got sticked in the face or speared. Montreal played a very undiciplined game taking all of those penalties maybe if you take off the homer gogles you can see that. Heck Koivu even got away with a slew foot behind the net. And of course your going to complain to the ref if you get speared or high-sticked and there was no call. I seen the Canadiean players complaining all game and the coach seemed to do quite a bit of complaining after the Pittsburgh meeting because he thought his team was not getting the calls.

The fact is Crosby got speared with no call and he complained just like any other player would do. As for Downy he is just some scrub trying to get in his head but if he got high sticked he would drop to the ice.

What do you mean you dont see how the Blake and Lapierre incedents to be called. They were spears it is a penalty in the NHL. You have to be in control of your stick at all times. But you would be singing a different tune if it happened to a player from the canadiens.

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

I don't know much about the Blake and Lapierre incidents, so I can't comment there.

As for him dropping like a fly: he's probably wondering what it will take to have a penalty called against him. Dive or not (probably dive) it should have been a high-sticking call. Think he dived, he should have been given a penalty as well.

I've made it clear many times before that I'm not a fan of the guy, but I've seen pretty clearly for a while now that the refs don't call it fairly for him. Dating back to last season really. He has to put up with a lot more stuff on the ice than I've seen any other player in the league have to. And I don't just mean defence in trying to stop him from scoring a goal, that should obviously come with the skill he continues to show.

I mean when it comes to penalties. The refs aren't calling what should be called, and in his case it seems quite severe.

 

[habschick]

Homer? Yup that’s mature.

I've seen Lemieux drop on an actual high stick also. I'm saying Crosby drops if someone flicks him. Of course you wouldn't see that that because you have your pens goggles on. It's so obvious pens fans are going to say the habs deserved those penalties because they are one sided. They did deserve some penalties but not all of them.

Downey was trying to get in his head and he did. Downey told him exactly what he needed to hear.

omg Blake hardly touched him and he went down like he was shot, same goes for Lapierre. If anything Crosby should have been called for embellishment.


Anyway; I'm done arguing with someone who can't write a sentence without calling someone a homer, you must be a child.

GO HABS!

From one homers view to another.

Ive seen M. Lemeuix drop on a high stick just like I have seen just about every superstar in the league going down like a sack of bricks with the slightest touch. Look at Koivu who did a dive from a hook that on replay barely touched him. Just like Crosby said you would also fall if you got sticked in the face or speared. Montreal played a very undiciplined game taking all of those penalties maybe if you take off the homer gogles you can see that. Heck Koivu even got away with a slew foot behind the net. And of course your going to complain to the ref if you get speared or high-sticked and there was no call. I seen the Canadiean players complaining all game and the coach seemed to do quite a bit of complaining after the Pittsburgh meeting because he thought his team was not getting the calls.

The fact is Crosby got speared with no call and he complained just like any other player would do. As for Downy he is just some scrub trying to get in his head but if he got high sticked he would drop to the ice.

What do you mean you dont see how the Blake and Lapierre incedents to be called. They were spears it is a penalty in the NHL. You have to be in control of your stick at all times. But you would be singing a different tune if it happened to a player from the canadiens.

 

[PensRule]

I agree with BE-LEAF-ABLE a penalty is a penalty and should be called. I already said in my first post that Crosby dropped like someone shot him but that doesnt take away from the high-stick. Also maybe Lapierre did not intentionnally spear him but he still did so that is also a penalty. I seen Gretzky get a call for someone skating to close to him so if anyone touched him with a stick im sure he would drop and has.

The homer comment was more of a joke as I also called myself one. You mentioned all the phantom penalties and non-calls going against Montreal(which also looks like you got your goggles on).

 

[Canuck]

The spear by blake should have been a penalty maybe even a major. Thats an attempt to injure someone but it wasnt that big of a spear, but It still was definetly a penalty and the refs didnt call it. That high stick definitely should have been called. He dropped to the ground pretty fast but i sure as hell bet you that hurt alot also. The refs have got to start treating Crosby with some respect and star calling the penalties that need to be called that they arent calling.

 

[imported_shookem]

The guy is trying to get the attention of the refs because he is getting hacked constantly. I have no problem with Sid flopping (although I think he goes down hard more than flops), if he can do it right, otherwise the refs are just going to have it out for him.

Would you want to be officiating the game where Sid gets injured because of a stick to the face?

I do think as a team the Pens need to get a lot grittier and tougher.

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

I totally agree, the Penguins lack grit, and have for years. They tried Andre Roy, but he could barely stay in the line-up (and I'm talking about last year, when the Pens weren't nearly as good as they are now).

And Jarkko Ruutu is more "pest" than "sandpaper". As we're seeng now, he's no help there.

As for Aaron Downey's comments: I honestly think that was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard in an interview. Every time I see it I wonder if anyone actually found his attempt at sarcasm funny. I thought that what was going on was a little more of a serious matter, be it that it was Crosby or a borderline NHLer.