Cujo, at first I agreed with you, but after seeing more slowmotion highlights, I'm beginning to suspect the hit was not legal. Stevens used his elbow and forearm in the delivery to Kariya's upper areas (ie, head area). It appears others agree too:
http://sportsnet.ca/nhl/story/10550...ckey&association=nhl&STORY_OID=10550851438767
Kariya lay flat on his back for nearly a minute after Scott Stevens caught the Ducks captain with his head down. (AP)
Kariya answers the call after getting bell rung
While Colin Campbell insisted that Scott Stevens used his shoulder to deliver the brunt of the blow, TV replays showed there was a prominent forearm and plenty of elbow.
(posted Jun. 8, 11:11AM EDT)
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Paul Kariya said it was a late hit but the NHL disagreed.
Saturday: Captain Duck leads flock to Game 7
The crunching bodycheck Scott Stevens laid on Kariya in Saturday's Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final will be debated right up until the two captains square off again to decide which of the two will hoist the Stanley Cup after Game 7 on Monday night.
The hit was so contentious that Colin Campbell, the NHL's director of hockey operations, felt impelled to issue a statement to the media during the third period in support of a decision by referees Dan Marouelli and Brad Watson not to call a penalty.
"There were two factors I looked at in reviewing the hit," said Campbell. "One, the hit was a legal hockey hit, as Stevens struck Kariya with his shoulder.
"Two, in reviewing the hit frame by frame, it was clear that the hit occurred less than one second after Kariya made the pass."
The hit occurred at 6:16 of the second period with Anaheim leading 3-1.
Kariya, who was having his best game of the series with two assists in the first period, had just passed the puck as he crossed the blue-line and glanced towards his teammate when Stevens lowered the boom.
Stevens is six foot two and 215 pounds. Kariya is five foot 10 and 182 pounds.
Kariya lay flat on his back for nearly a minute getting his breath back. He was able to leave the ice on his own legs, but with help from his teammates.
The sight of the Ducks star and captain prone on the ice shocked the capacity crowd at Arrowhead Pond into silence, but they cheered wildly when Kariya returned within five minutes.
"The doctors did some tests but I felt great," he said. "They cleared me to go and I was back on the ice."
Stevens also leveled Eric Lindros, now of the Rangers, in his final game for the Philadelphia Flyers in an Eastern Conference final game in 2000. Lindros suffered a concussion on the play.
"I thought it was a little bit late," Kariya said of the check that made his legs wobble.
"I didn't like the hit, obviously," he said. "That's Scott's game. He's very patient with his hits and he times them right.
"He waits for his opportunity and he's done that throughout his career."
While Campbell insisted the shoulder delivered the brunt of the blow, TV replays showed a prominent forearm and plenty of elbow.
"I saw a couple of replays and it looked a little bit like the elbow," said Kariya. "That's the way he hits so it's a fine line there."
Kariya's career was in jeopardy five years ago when he suffered a concussion from a Gary Suter cross-check to the head. The injury forced him off Canada's team for the 1998 Olympics.
This time, however, the Vancouver native jumped back into the play immediately and teed up a slapshot that whizzed past goaltender Marty Brodeur to give Anaheim a 4-1 lead.
"What an incredible way to respond," said Ducks forward Steve Rucchin. "That's the reason why he wears the `C' and he's our leader.
Kariya, who makes $10 million US per season, had one lone assist in the first five games and his lack of production fuelled plenty of critical commentary in the preceding days.
"That's why they pay you the money," Babcock said of Kariya's ability to come through under heavy pressure leading to Game 6.
Ducks defenceman Keith Carney called the Stevens hit a clean hit but joined the chorus insisting it was well after Kariya made the pass.
"It was a clean hit," said New Jersey coach Pat Burns, who said he didn't actually see the violent collision. "The league advised everybody of that so it's a clean hit."
Stevens, who was booed every time he touched the puck after that check, said little.
"It should be harder for those things to happen," he said. "It's pretty well known.
"So, yeah, but you can't let your guard down. Hey, it's a physical game out there."
Kariya wears a different helmet than he did five years ago and he's added a mouthguard to his protective equipment.
"It gagged me a little bit but I found a good one that worked," he said. "I have been wearing it for four years now and also the helmet is a little thicker foam -- the one that PattaFontaine used when he came back."
Ducks head coach Mike Babcock wasn't about to knock referees Dan Marouelli or Brad Watson over the non-call.
"They're doing the best they can," he said. "To me, they're doing everything and they're making the decisions as fast as they can. I think they've done a good job."