Betts hurt "significantly"

Jim Schoenfeld wouldn't reveal the exact nature of Blair Betts' injury but did say the fourth-center and top penalty killer was "hurt significantly" when Donald Brashear hit him with an elbow to the head at 9:54 of the first period.

"It was a late hit to the head," Schoenfield said. "It was pretty vicious. The league will look at it and make their own ruling."

The Rangers want the NHL to review Brashear's hit, which the league undoubtedly will do. There won't be much surprise if Brashear is suspended for Tuesday's Game 7 in Washington.

But the Rangers are also angry that Brashear was allowed to play at all after he threw a push at Rangers enforcer Colton Orr (who was a healthy scratch) during the pre-game warmups as the two jawed. Schoenfeld said there are supposed to be NHL rules that prevent players from playing after engaging in pre-game hijinks.

Comments

[Matty]

Yeah, rules that don't apply to teams playing against us apparently

[Mark]

Man Brashear should be suspended, even though he deserves to feel the wrath of Orr. Also a guy bites Dubi, how do you not get suspended for that as well. Awful game today, finally caught up to the Rangers these last two games how many awful players are on this team that can't always be saved by Henrik. I don't see them winning game 7, so hopefully now that I say that they will win.

[stuart A]

suspending Brashear means jack. he took a key player out for the Rangers, intentionally with the blessing of the coach.

they should have given him a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. the rangers lost there #1 PK guy, and received no powerplay.

Is suspending him a punishment????To who???

This incident just shows what a joke the NHL is. Watch the replay betts was going to the bench, gave up the puck 2 seconds before he was hit with a blatant elbow to the head from a moron who has had a previous head injury. The stupidity is astounding.

Yeah it had no affect on the game my bad.. Dubi gets a double minor and a 10 minute penalty and Grenn who when hit was at least 3 feet from the boards was hurt so bad he started the PP on the ice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THink about that.........

[Jess]

Rangers should blame themselves for scratching Orr which basically was an invite for Brashear to do as he pleases

[Michael]

Glad you Rags fans have something blame your ABSOLUTELY HUMILIATING loss on.

[k-roc]

Brashear "threw a push" at Orr? I can't say I've ever heard that expression before. Very creative.

It was a shoulder to the chest that crushed Betts, not an elbow to the head, then Brashear's forearm threw-a-pushed him the rest of the way to the ice.

However, it WAS a late hit, but I've seen plenty of other hits, just as late, not get called.

[stuart A]

k roc keep believing your own bullsh-t. no one with a brain would, I forgot you are brainless. watch the replay mental midget.. count how many seconds. over 2 fpr betts before the hit.. BTW it was an elbow to Betts melon or noggin.

you are friggin moron

[Bold Fenian]

Didn't the Caps have to submit their lineup first today? If so, why on earth didn't Tortorella dress Orr knowing that Brashear was already on the warpath? Talk about unilateral disarmament!

Was Tortorella watching the same Game 5 we were? And he comes back with the soft lineup.

Crazy. The coach is suspended and still finds a way to make a fatal mistake.

[Christian]

Doesn't matter what the fans think of it, the NHL will rule on it soon enough. But I can't believe people write some of these comments on seeing someone get hurt. There is no doubt in my mind that Blair Betts has a concussion. He had that look in his eyes that hockey fans are sadly too familiar with.

I think this whole Rangers-Caps fan fighting is getting out of control. Let's just watch hockey. Since the majority of America is watching the NBA playoffs and MLB.

[Mark]

If Campbell suspends Brashear, I can't wait for the statement he puts out.

Donald Brashear has been suspended for 1 game following an elbow to the head of Blair Betts that all four of Bettman's refs missed.

[k-roc]

Stuart A--

Resorting to childish name-calling doesn't exactly prove anything, now does it? How about you find a few replays from different angles instead of the one from behind Betts that all you Rangers fans keep pointing to? Or would that be way too objective for you?

[LI Joe]

k-roc and others caps (or devs fans?)

try the lohud ranger blog with your comments and see what those people think. you'll get much more of a reaction as they consistently have 1,000 posts per game thread.

thanks

[LI Joe]

graves from a few posts back. where i agreed with sitting avery in game (they were destined to lose tha tone either way) on the basis of accountability.

i agree with you that drury should have sat this series. not as punishment but because he has a broken bone in his hand which renders himm ineffective.

[stuart A]

I saw the Betts hit from 2 angles clown. BTW he hit betts over 2 seconds after he dumped the puck in and was moving right and back towards his bench..

CLOWN.. AND OJ did not kill Nicole Brown.. get a clue fool.

[k-roc]

Stuart A--

More brilliant analysis from a real charmer. Again, name-calling doesn't prove your point or strengthen your argument in any way, but I guess that's something you're either unwilling or unable to grasp...

[stuart A]

Kroc again get a brain...

to even dispute the brashear hit is all I need to know about your intellect or lack of..

get back to reading your chip hilton books you fool..

[Keith]

How the heck did this blog get infiltrated by some Dev or Cap fans?! If you guys are Dev fans focus on your own team-you guys got smoked tonight. If you are Cap fans find another blog and stop screwing this one up. I don't think any rational NHL fan would defend Brashear even if they were a Caps fan-the guy has been doing this crap his whole career. He is a dirtbag but he is a tough dirtbag and so far no one has beaten him bad enough to make him think twice. Orr sat or not it would not have made a difference. What did make a difference was that they removed the top Penalty Killer on the Rangers and didn't even get penalized for it. He also probably gave the guy a concussion which is serious business.
I think that as many mistakes that have been made in this series with security/and or referee blatant misconduct-it's made the whole thing a sham. I cannot believe how many mistakes have been made-period.

[stuart A]

Keith with some common sense..

If I remember correctly Brashear was destroyed many moons ago by McSorley. You think if that really happened he would be a little smarter about these things. Again fighting and hard check are all part of the game but intent to hurt a guy for no reason is disgusting and indefensible. Mr. Beuadreau had to have a had in this , a wink, a suggestion for sure. No the pregame Brashear routine was his own idea..

the amazing thing is people are even debating this or the fact that the scholars on NBC were not outraged.. It is amazing that they will get away with this intentional mailicous heinous act. Betts is a FA next year, the guy is 29, how will it affect how and if he can make a living? Hell who cares the caps won great win, old time hockey, blah blah blah

[Keith]

That's right Stuart A-that was Brashear who got blasted by Mcsorley. good call-

[RF]

Next season, the Rangers should call up some minor league goon for their first game against the Capitals and instruct this goon to break his stick over Brashear's beyond ugly face. Then let Capital management know that any more cheapshots from Brashear in the future will result in a similar response from the Rangers. Pay the resulting fine, let the goon be suspended and then send him back to the minors.

[Josh]

Thought you might want to see this article from the Washington post caps fans are spreading:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/26/AR2009042602435.html

[Georgio]

I really hate dirty hits like this!