RAW DEAL FOR NEAL?

Just how costly will the James Neal boarding of Columbus winger Derek Dorsett be for the Dallas Stars?

Neal was assessed the 5 minute major and a game misconduct – and now the league has tacked on a two game suspension.

If you look at the overall penance it seems like a lot. The Stars lost a player on the ice for a 5 minute span, allowed two powerplay goals during that time to run the deficit against the Bluejackets to 4-0, lost their leading goal scorer for the last half of the game, and now will be without him for two important home tilts versus the Devils and Canes.

Mike Richards of the Flyers was handed a 5 minute major for interference and game misconduct for this violent, blast-the-guy-who-isn’t-looking blindside hit that still has David Booth struggling to return to action. That was deemed a legal hit by the league office because he was traveling through an area where a player should “expect to get hit” and it was blamed more on the density of the shoulder pads than the intent of the hitter to obliterate the other guy. There was no suspension.

I know the league is trying to curb certain hits, especially hits from behind and to the head, but it just seems that a major and a game misconduct that lead directly to a loss should most times suffice – that’s why the rule book has three different penalties for boarding depending on the degree of severity (2 minute minor, 5 minute major, or a match penalty for intentional attempt to injure), so that the violent act can be dealt with on the spot by the referees. After the fact, internal pressure from peers and coaches to not be so vacuous and reckless next time can work just as well if not better than league supplementary discipline.

Sometimes suspensions just open the door for teammate rally cries of “ You got screwed” instead of “Don’t screw us like that again”.