Ribeiro's slash

I'm a Stars fan and even I got pissed off that he did that. That is so unclassy. I mean I love fights and all but that was just a terrible cheep shot. Stupid on his part I would say, guess we will see what happens.

Ribieros slash was gutless. It was intent to injure. The League is watching everything that happens after the game is ended. Id say it warrants at least one game but because it happened with no time on the clock it could end up being 3 or 5.

Otts mugging of Draper with 4 seconds left was also gutless. He attacked Draper from behind after they initially seperated. Draper had a pool of blood in his right eye along with seveal scrapes on his face.

Turcos play was almost as gutless. He got the one penalty for the slash, but he also tripped a couple Wings forwards as they did nothing but skate by him and his flop into the net trying to draw a penalty was beyond ridiculous.

The Stars look like a beaten team. Their attempt to goon it up at the end is nothing new for the Wings. Looked the same in the Calgary series last playoff season.

I have a hard time thinking what they should do to both parties involved.

Before I get started, I will admit I am a die hard wings fan, yet I harbor no bias when it comes to sports and I do not tolerate cheap tactics.  With that said, let's go.

I watched the replay probably about 15 minutes trying to determine whether or not Osgood's butt end was intentional.  On one hand, I think it is, but on the other, I don't.  The reason I think it is, is because there is no reason to lift your hand like that when you know the possibility of your stick striking a player is possible.  But, at the same time, he lifted his hand like an inch from where it was, so it wasn't a blatant attempt to injure.

What the announcers said is completely stupid too.  They said he put his hand up to protect Nick Lidstrom.  Well, that might be the case if Lidstom was behind the net, where Ribiero was heading, but Lidstrom was right in front of the net, so that throws that theory out of the window.

As for Ribiero, whether or not the butt end was intentional, you still don't slash people like that.  That is a classless move for a star player to pull.  Not only does it hurt your team by risking your possible suspention, it pisses Detroit off, and Detroit is lethal when they're pissed off.

Did Osgood embelish the slash?  Of course he did.  In this day and age, hockey is turning into soccer and it breaks my heart to say that.  People dive, fake injuries, embelish tiny hits, it's ridiculous.  I don't agree with the way Osgood played it.  Hell, you slash me like that with no protection on, I might go down for a minute, but I'm getting back up and making a B-line for the guy who hit me, not lay on the ground like some 5 year old who got hit by a truck.

I've read a couple of posts regarding this topic, and there is one guy that I agree with in regards to punishment.  Fine Osgood and suspend Ribiero for 1 game.  Sure, you could give him more, but think about it logically.  If he really intended to injure someone:

1) He wouldn't slash the goalie

2) He wouldn't slash the goalie in the chest where he has massive amounts of padding

3) He would've swung a lot harder

Yes, it was a stupid, classless play by him that merits a 1 game suspension, but nothing more I believe.  Hell, they don't suspend some people who do a hell of a lot more than that.  Pronger is a walking example of that.

Fine Osgood for embelishing and possibly butt ending him, set him straight, and we go on our way.

Either way, I don't think you can only penalize one person, either get both, or get neither.  If you get one or the other, it sets an example that the NHL is too lazy to properly punish people, or that it favors either the goalie or a star player.  All or nothing.

Ultimately, those last 10 seconds of the game made the series that much more exciting, and I sure as hell can't wait to watch tomorrow nights game.