Boston Bruins: Canadiens Fans Hold Protests over Zdeno Chara's Hit on Pacioretty

The Bruins have been an exciting team to watch this year, and so have the Montreal Canadiens. When both teams meet, you can be sure that the excitement turns into pure pandemonium. 

On February 9, 2011 there were a slew of brawls that broke out between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens. There were approximately 13 fights in total. Even the goaltenders Tim Thomas and Carey Price threw down for a brief wrestling bout. Players from both sides combined to receive 192 penalty minutes.

When Claude Julien was asked what was going on, he said, "I guess it's the intensity of the rivalry has taken over right now."

Must Read: Big, Bad Bruins Reeking Havoc on NHL Foes

The Canadiens squared off with the Bruins again for round two on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. This game, like the first meeting, also had some "fireworks." Tuesday night's Bruins-Habs game took a scary turn late in the second period when Max Pacioretty was carried off on a stretcher after taking a hit from Bruins captain Zdeno Chara.

The hit didn't appear to be administered with the intention of serving up an injury to Pacioretty, but unfortunately that is exactly how things played out. Taking a look at the snapshot of the check, you don't see an angry look on Chara's face that would indicate that this was premeditated or intentional in some way shape or form. Chara said he had no intent to hurt Pacioretty, but as a result of the play he was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct in Boston's 4-1 loss to Montreal last Tuesday evening.

It was your average hard check, and the momentum brought Pacioretty's head into the turnbuckle. Hard hits are something that Chara tends to not give out as much as Bruins fans believe he should. He has been called soft at times for such a big man. Now, the Bruins are finally playing hard again and hoping that their aggressive, passionate play will turn into more wins.

On Wednesday morning, Zdeno Chara had a disciplinary hearing over the telephone with Mike Murphy, the NHL's senior vice president of hockey operations. Upon review of the check, Murphy and the NHL decided not to further penalize or suspend Chara.

"After a thorough review of the video, I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline," Murphy said in a statement. "This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly—with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards."

Murphy went on to say, "I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous. This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface. In reviewing this play, I also took into consideration that Chara has not been involved in a supplemental discipline incident during his 13-year NHL career."

Murphy's and the NHL's decision did not sit too well with Montreal fans, the Montreal police department and Max Pacioretty.

"I am upset and disgusted that the league didn't think enough of [the hit] to suspend him," Pacioretty told TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. "I'm not mad for myself, I'm mad because if other players see a hit like that and think it's OK, they won't be suspended, then other players will get hurt like I got hurt."

In other related news, the Montreal police have said they are investigating the incident, "acting on a request by Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions, Louis Dionne. After evidence is collected, it will be determined if there are grounds for prosecution."

All this talk about getting Montreal police involved is ludicrous. I never heard one thing about police getting involved when Marc Savard had his back broken two years ago by Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins. When you try to beat an NHL defenseman along the wall in neutral ice, you're gonna get hit. If he is 6'9", 255 pounds, then you are going to get hit hard. It's hockey, and it was a hockey play—live with it and move on!

There's no place for anyone other than the NHL to administer discipline within the league. What's criminal here is all the whining coming out of Montreal! You should be ashamed of yourselves. Even Pacioretty said he doesn't want Chara prosecuted.

"I sincerely appreciate all of the support that I have received since my injury," he said in a statement. "I was disappointed that the NHL did not suspend Zdeno Chara. However, I have no desire for him to be prosecuted legally. I feel that the incident, as ugly as it was, was part of a hockey game."

Chara said the statement was "a nice gesture. It's something that, for sure, shouldn't go that far." He also said after the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to Buffalo on Thursday night that he will "try to reach out" to Pacioretty and call him via telephone or meet with him in person "when the time is right." For now, Pacioretty "probably needs time and space." Chara went on to say that "right now, I'm focusing on playing my game, and playing hockey."

In more current news, protests have been held in Montreal clearly showing the Canadiens fans' rage over the Chara hit. Quite frankly who cares about these protests or the protesters. With all the problems in the world today you would think people would organize for something that could make a difference. Instead Montreal fans seem to have nothing better to do than organize rallies to protest a legal, clean hit that took place during an ice hockey game. It is irresponsible and uncalled for.

The Canadiens and Bruins will meet again on Thursday, March 24, 2011 for the sixth time this season. This game promises to be a good one. Montreal currently leads the season series four games to one.