John Scott Faces In-Person Hearing

Oct 23, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Boston Bruins left wing

(21) is helped off the ice after being hit by Buffalo Sabres defenseman

(not shown) during the third period at First Niagara Center. Bruins beat the Sabres 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, we are primarily a site that covers everything and anything about the New York Islanders.

But occasionally, we like to get our writing boots on and cover things that happen of interest  debate or contention around the National Hockey League.

It allows us to spread our wings, sort of speak, and show that our knowledge and experience falls outside of just things happening on Long Island.

As mentioned in last weeks column, the lack of respect being shown around the league is alarming to say the least. Players seem to be taking liberties at every turn with their fellow union members, putting themselves at risk of suspension and worse than that, risking the careers and livelihoods of the victim.

Last night in Buffalo, the Boston Bruins defeated the Sabres 5-2 behind two goals from Milan Lucic.

At the 5:49 mark of the third period, we had our sixth (yes, that’s right) incident involving a dangerous and reckless hit in just under three weeks of action.

John Scott, skating across the neutral zone, clobbers Loui Eriksson with a shoulder/elbow to the head, knocking the Bruins winger out of the game and forcing him to spend the night in a local hospital for evaluation.

Scott, at 6’8 and 270 lbs, was already involved once this season in a skirmish with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the pre-season when he seemingly attempted to lure Phil Kessel into the most mis-matched fight that would have ever taken place in the league’s history. Kessel responded by taking baseball style swings at Scott and it escalated into a full line brawl.

Miraculously Scott has never been suspended in his entire career but has been asked to appear in person for a hearing with head of player discipline/safety Brendan Shanahan. Typically, that means a ban of 5 games or more us upcoming for the goliath.

Things being what they are and reviewing the tape, I can clearly see Scott target Eriksson for a check in the neutral zone. Given the size advantage of 6 inches, there is no way Scott can get away with hitting Eriksson in any other part of this body other than the head. But the question begs, was the hit even necessary in the first place?

Eriksson had dumped the puck in, was not even close to being in a prime scoring location and had no bearing on the final outcome of the play whatsoever. The video shows Scott had time to pull up or veer off without making contact with the Boston forward at all.

The guess here is that he gets 5 games for this hit (being a first time offender).

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