GDT: Stars @ Predators - 3/17/2007 7:00pm CST

[PredDave]

Game Preview: Predators vs. Stars

Where: Nashville Arena

When: 7 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports Net

Radio: 560-AM; 104.5-FM will pick up following Vanderbilt basketball.

Tickets: Sold out

Season series: Stars lead 2-0.

Stars story line: Dallas, which has won four straight games, stood fifth in the Western Conference prior to Friday's games. … Mike Modano scored his 501st career goal Thursday and is one goal short of tying Joey Mullen for most career goals from a U.S.-born player.

Predators story line: The Predators lost back-to-back regulation games against Detroit this week following a 7-0-3 stretch.

Stars injuries: RW Chris Conner (lower body), C Jeff Halpern (foot), RW Eric Lindros (groin), LW Ladislav Nagy (face), D Mattias Norstrom and LW Brenden Morrow (wrist) are questionable; RW Matthew Barnaby (concussion), C Steve Ott (ankle) and C Patrik Stefan (hip) are out.

Predators injuries: RW Martin Erat (knee), LW Scott Hartnell (foot), C Scott Nichol (thumb) and LW Steve Sullivan (back) are out; C Peter Forsberg (upper body) is probable.

[PredDave]

Nashville flattens Dallas - Nashville, Tennessee - Sunday, 03/18/07 - Tennessean.com

Nashville flattens Dallas
Tootoo, Trotz blame Robidas for punch

On a night when the Predators recorded a big victory and Dallas' Mike Modano set an NHL record, it was a late-game blow struck by Nashville forward Jordin Tootoo that left the most lasting memory.

Just how significant the league deems the incident remains to be seen.

It occurred with 3:39 left in the Predators' 3-2 win over Dallas at Nashville Arena, just after Tootoo hit Modano with a hard, clean check near the Dallas blue line.

Tootoo figured that one or more of Modano's teammates would be steaming to his defense. So Tootoo spun around, saw defenseman Steph-ane Robidas flying toward him and hit Robidas on the jaw.

Robidas fell to the ice, lay flat on his back for several minutes and eventually was taken off on a stretcher. He was taken to a hospital where Stars Coach Dave Tippett reported Robidas was conscious and with feeling in all extremities.

[PredDave]

HockeyBuzz.com

The big story of the game could've been the Predators re-taking first place in the division, or Mike Modano taking over the US Born player goal scoring record, unfortunately, it will end up being about an ugly incident in the last few minutes of the game involving Jordin Tootoo, Mike Modano and Stephane Robidas.

This is one of those incidents that are in the eye of the beholder, that will be looked at through the filter of fandom...

> Dallas fans will see a Jordin Tootoo hit on Modano as "dirty", that Mike Modano only was defending himself and Stephane Robidas was riding to the defense of his teammate and star player and got "sucker punched."

> Nashville fans will see a perfectly legal check on a star player, they will see the charging Robidas as a threat that should've been defended against (and was), and will further see Modano's stick swing that connected with Jordin Tootoo's upper back through the lens of the Chris Simon incident.

I have to give the officiating crew credit on this one. Kerry Frasier and Dan O'Rourke did a great job in calling it. The penalties called in the incident gave Tootoo a double minor for roughing, Robidas a minor for charging. That's it... when this comes down to review by the NHL, this will be huge. Two of the best rated, most respected referees in the league called it. It will be interesting to see if the league office supports their view of the incident.

[MtAvsfn]

That was one heck of a punch by Tootoo. Why would he automatically put a fist up like that, even if he suspected someone would be coming in on him? Why not just try to push the oncomer away or something? I'm not bagging on the guy, just wondering.

Robidas dropped like a rock. With the combination of Tootoo's punch and Robidas' speed coming in....ouch.

[PredDave]

Originally Posted by MtAvsfn

That was one heck of a punch by Tootoo. Why would he automatically put a fist up like that, even if he suspected someone would be coming in on him? Why not just try to push the oncomer away or something? I'm not bagging on the guy, just wondering.

Robidas dropped like a rock. With the combination of Tootoo's punch and Robidas' speed coming in....ouch.

First off, let me state that I am not a Tootoo fan. I personally can't stand him as a player, but I think he did nothing wrong in defending himself.

I was at the game and saw it firsthand. Tootoo did not pull back his arm and throw a punch at Robidas. He literally put his fist up (and Robidas skated hard into his fist). It was NOT a "sucker punch".

I am very upset at the way the media describes the incident. This kind of play needs to stop --- i.e., player legally checks a player AND then other players come in and try to kill the player who through a check.

Oh well, if Tootoo gets suspended and Modano gets nothing, the NHL is a joke!

[MtAvsfn]

Originally Posted by PredDave

First off, let me state that I am not a Tootoo fan. I personally can't stand him as a player, but I think he did nothing wrong in defending himself.

I was at the game and saw it firsthand. Tootoo did not pull back his arm and throw a punch at Robidas. He literally put his fist up (and Robidas skated hard into his fist). It was NOT a "sucker punch".

I am very upset at the way the media describes the incident. This kind of play needs to stop --- i.e., player legally checks a player AND then other players come in and try to kill the player who through a check.

Oh well, if Tootoo gets suspended and Modano gets nothing, the NHL is a joke!

From the clips of the play, it certainly looks like Tootoo cocks his arm back. I thought that was why it looked so bad. To me, it looked like the combination of Tootoo pulling his arm back and Robidas skating in so hard, is what made it have such an impact.

I have to see this whole clip again.

[LemaireisGOD]

YouTube - Jordin Tootoo, Punch on Robidas

Well, you're wrong...it was most definately a sucker punch. Holding his fist up? That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard. His arm is clearly going forward as he sucker punched Robidas. You don't fall like that otherwise, and definately there would not have been enough force to have him need to be carried from the ice on a stretcher. If Tootoo is going to do that crap then he better be prepared to actually take on the people that want to fight him. Not just turtle or skate away. That sucker punch was bush league crap.

If Tootoo has any balls at all, when guys like Boogaard, Laraque and other heavyweights want to fight he better step up and do so. Watch the clip and you'll clearly see that arm was going forward. Holding up his fist? Give me a break...

[PredDave]

Originally Posted by LemaireisGOD

Well, you're wrong...it was most definately a sucker punch. Holding his fist up? That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard. His arm is clearly going forward as he sucker punched Robidas. You don't fall like that otherwise, and definately there would not have been enough force to have him need to be carried from the ice on a stretcher. If Tootoo is going to do that crap then he better be prepared to actually take on the people that want to fight him. Not just turtle or skate away. That sucker punch was bush league crap.

If Tootoo has any balls at all, when guys like Boogaard, Laraque and other heavyweights want to fight he better step up and do so. Watch the clip and you'll clearly see that arm was going forward. Holding up his fist? Give me a break...

I still do not believe that I'm wrong! I was sitting 3 rows behind the glass and saw it in person. And then, I went home and watched it again on TiVo (they had 6 different angles on the Fox Sports Net broadcast). You are entitled to your own opinion and I will respect that even if you are mistaken. hahaha

Call it whatever you like, but it was not a sucker punch. Robidas would never have been hit if he wasn't charging into Tootoo with such voracity and destructive force.

This argument is not going anywhere, so let's just move on.

If Tootoo comes back March 31st and faces the Stars like a man, and doesn't turtle, maybe he can gain some respect? Let's see how he handles it....

I'm more angry at Modano's free pass than I am at Tootoo's suspension.

[LemaireisGOD]

Did Modano's stick swing end up with Toot's leaving the ice on a stretcher? No...but Tootoo's sucker punch certainly did.

[PredDave]

Originally Posted by LemaireisGOD

Did Modano's stick swing end up with Toot's leaving the ice on a stretcher? No...but Tootoo's sucker punch certainly did.

First of all, swinging a stick at another player is dangerous, illegal, and should not be looked over. I don't care if he lazily used one hand or not. He still came down on Tootoo's back with enough force to send a message. That is cowardice!

Tootoo's straight-armed extension (i.e., NOT A SUCKER PUNCH) could not have caused any damage if Robidas wasn't charging him with such force.... Ever wonder why Robidas felt the need to attack another player for a legal, clean check? hmm.... I think the real problem here is the "sissification" of hockey. Players are no longer allowed to check anyone on the ice without being attacked. That's grand!

[LemaireisGOD]

Tootoo's straight-armed extension

Wait a sec...how can it go from holding his fist up; to now morphing to a straight-armed extension? Sounds like you're defense over it not being a punch is crumbling. I don't care if you were two feet away; if you can't tell that's a punch (and none of the other garbage semantic arguments you've put forth) then you're blind. It was most definately a sucker punch. Why did he skate towards Tootoo? He hit their star winger; clean or not...you don't just let it happen. Have you ever even played hockey? A guy lights up your best player you go after him. I've even been sent out by my coach to run players who have hit our star players. Why? Because if you don't they'll never stop hitting your star player.

Sissification? Hahahaha. Sissification is keeping your gloves on and not fighting when I am pretty sure that's what Robidas wanted. Instead he gets a sucker punch from a little punk not wanting to take a beating for his hit (whether it was clean or not is entirely irrelevant).

Fine...you don't want a sissification of hockey. Then don't b$tch when teams run Kariya, Sullivan or any of your star players. Your players better not step up to defend their teamates or hit those people who hit your star players back or your a hypocrite. If that's how you feel...then don't complain when Boogaard starts running your stars. Nah...lemme guess that's not fair, but somehow suckerpunches from Tootoo is.