Today In NHL History - Walker Punches Ward

On May 10th in 2009, Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker sucker-punched Boston Bruins blueliner Aaron Ward down 4-0 with three minutes remaining in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

Walker was penalized 17 minutes and assessed a $2,500 fine but amazingly escaped suspension despite Rules 46.12 and 46.22 mandating such for instigating a fight with 5 minutes to play. Ward didn't miss a game quieting post game chatter of a broken orbital bone.

Boston beat Carolina that night by a score of 4-0 but lost the series 4-3.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Bertuzzi Punches Moore

On March 8th in 2004, the lives of Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore became inextricably linked in a now famous gruesome act of retribution gone wrong.

The seeds of the incident were sewn three weeks earlier, when Moore swept the puck away from Markus Naslund and proceeded to deliver an open ice headshot to the then league leading scorer. The Canucks captain would miss the next three games and never regain his Art Ross form.
With the score 8-2 midway through the final frame of Colorado's next visit to Vancouver, sophomore coach Tony Granato made the rookie mistake of parading Moore in front of the blood thirsty Canucks. Bertuzzi shadowed Moore for the entire shift attempting to engage him, but Moore refused. Bertuzzi then dropped his stick, sucker punched Moore from behind, slipped on his own stick, and drove Moore's head into the ice.

Moore's NHL career ended that moment and Bertuzzi's would never be the same. Bertuzzi was suspended from hockey for 17 months though only missed 20 NHL games owing to the NHL lockout. Despite Bertuzzi's repeated apologies, Moore has never forgiven him.

The incident remained news 10 years after the incident owing to a $60 million lawsuit Moore filed against Bertuzzi and Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment in an Ontario Court. The suit was settled on September 4, 2014, four days before the trial was scheduled to begin.

That's today in NHL history.

* See also Today In NHL History - Naslund Trade (PIT-VAN)
* See also Markus Naslund Interview - Örnsköldsvik, SWE
* See also Today In NHL History - Queen Visits Canucks
* See also Markus Does What Mark Should Have

Today In NHL History - Eager Punches Armstrong

On January 7th in 2010, notorious cheapshot Ben Eager of the Atlanta Thrashers sucker-punched Toronto Maple Leafs forward Colby Armstrong late in the second period of play with his team trailing by a score of 5-1.

After the game, Eager continued his assault on Armstrong accusing him of being "one of the biggest phonies in the league". Sporting a patch over his right eye, Armstrong offered a two word description of Eager - "meat-head" - joking "I can't believe he missed my nose".

Colby suffered a scratched cornea from the sucker-punch resulting in swelling and leaking from his right eye. Despite the injury, Armstrong continued to play for a month until his vision became blurred from the incident and he was sidelined for a week missing four games.

Eager was assessed a match penalty and subsequently suspended four games, forfeiting $20,752 in pay. The punishment was shocking to some as Milan Lucic escaped suspension two weeks earlier for bare-knuckle sucker-punching Thrasher Freddy Meyer, prompting Eager to opine "there's no real parity in these suspensions that are handed out".

Toronto scored four times on the ensuing man advantage, collecting five powerplay goals on Eager penalties that night, en route to a 9-3 win.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Downie Punches Blake

On January 5th in 2008, Philadelphia Flyers forward Steve Downie sucker-punched the Maple Leafs' Jason Blake as the pair were being restrained by officials following early third period fisticuffs.
Already famous for a vicious preseason headshot on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond, earning him a 20 game suspension and criticism from players league-wide (including Blake), the reckless rookie renewed his reputation as a cheapshot four games into his young NHL career.

Even hard-nosed hockey commentator and Coach's Corner co-host Don Cherry was disgusted by the display, dubbing Downie a backstabber.
Flyers VP Bobby Clarke instead applauded his player for the punch, claiming "the kid did what every hockey player should do. If a player like Blake who's been around as long as he has wants to criticize a player, then he has to go on the ice with him and suffer the consequences."
Downie was penalized four minutes on the play but escaped another suspension. Philadelphia beat Toronto that night by a score of 3-2.

That's today in NHL history.

* See also Today In NHL History - Downie Slewfoots Crosby.
* See also Today In NHL History - Downie Hits McAmmond.

Today In NHL History - Milan Lucic Punches Meyer

On December 23rd in 2010, Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic delivered a bare-knuckle sucker punch to an unsuspecting Freddy Meyer in response to being up-ended by the Atlanta Thrashers defenseman.

Despite cowardly striking a defenseless player, whilst being restrained by a linesman no less, Lucic miraculously escaped suspension for his classless act further fueling speculation of league favoritism towards the Bruins owing to NHL chief disciplinarian Colin Campbell's son Gregory Campbell playing for the club. Instead, Lucic was fined $2,500 for the punch and $1,000 for taunting the Thrashers bench afterwards, totaling less than one one-thousandth of the forward's $4m annual salary.

Boston beat Atlanta that night by a score of 4-1.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Carcillo Punches Bradley

On December 5th in 2009, Philadelphia Flyers goon Daniel Carcillo sucker punched Matt Bradley of the Washington Capitals with five minutes remaining in the first period and the teams tied 1-1.

Carcillo received 29 minutes in penalties on the play (Bradley drew nothing) with the NHL adding a four game suspension, forcing the Flyer to forgo $43,597 in pay. Washington scored three times on the ensuing 9 minute powerplay and ultimately beat Philadelphia by a score of 8-2.

That's today in NHL history.