On Monday, in the first game of the first series in the second period - Matt Dumba knocked the shit out of Joe Pavelski. If you'd like to see the hit and aftermath, here it is:
I was asked by a reader (holy shit people read this?!?!?! Thank you!) named Ross (hey Ross, rock and roll good sir! I am absolutely a Stars fan, go Stars!) for my hot take, so here it is:
I don't think it was a dirty hit. Dumba's skates didn't leave the ice. To this day I remember Darian Hatcher's skates leaving the ice during this hit on Jeremy Roenick - it looked liked this:
This hit broke Jeremy's jaw and required a bit of surgery to rearrange. I remembered this hit so well that when I was a referee for TXRD (roller derby) I encouraged a rule that penalized someone who performed a hit in which both of their skates left the surface of the rink. I think this rule still stands. I know it is still a rule in the NHL, which is why Dumba's hit wasn't a major penalty.
Anyhow, the reason why I don't think it was a dirty hit isn't entirely related to the skates touching the ice. Joe Pav's head hit the ice, and hard. Some of ya'll might have seen the recent comments by Tua Tagovailoa who had two pretty huge concussions this past NFL season. Since then Tua has been "learning to fall" from a jujitsu instructor, which is something I figured every NFL person who gets hit a bunch already did, but I guess I was wrong. I recommend it though. There is an art to falling and how you fall can prevent serious injury - ask any 82nd airborne paratrooper and they'll let you all about it.
Now I'm not saying it was Joe Pav's fault he got hurt - he got the shit knocked out of him, he's nearly my age still playing hockey, and with those variables you don't get to decide how your head hits the ice.
Stars fans have booed Dumba every time he touches the puck since, and I support this 100% - even though I think it was a legal hit. I support the booing because the wonderful thing about sports is you get to let your emotions out on people who don't necessarily deserve it. They get paid to take the hate, and there is plenty of hate to give.
I do wish our political system didn't work the same way as sports though, unfortunately that's where we are at as a country. More on that when elections get closer!
Get better Pav's, go Stars, and rock and roll.
-Stein
I agree that it wasn't an illegal hit. I appreciate your take. I am so glad to see the Stars get to the next round of the playoffs, last night, and will cheer them on while wearing my Hatcher jersey. Btw. You know this Ross. Troop 328.