chile57

Also - completely agree that goals like Pat Kane's (and Pat Kane in general) are BS. Shootout attempts should be a replication of an in-game scenario. To my other point - guy is fighting for position in front of the net while goaltender is in the butterfly and swings around making solid contact with the goaltender's head. If that was a skater - it'd be called every time (unless the ref misses it) but rarely if ever do you see it called on a goalie. Double standard.

Disclaimer: in a general sense - I'm fine with the play/ability to pull this off. I think it fits within the framework of the game/rule set. I don't think you can "ban" it just based on the fact it could lead to damage if a stick went through the cage - if that was the case you'd have to say "all sticks must be in contact with the ice at all times lest you spear or highstick or whatever an opposing player". Just the same for skaters - you can bring your stick up but if you make contact to the head/face be in intentional or inadvertent - it's a penalty (and in this instance - the goal would be waved off). I'm also not saying we call mask shots to the mask a penalty. I'm not talking absolutes or delving into the ridiculous here folks. The game has always been - if you are reckless with your stick and make contact in the head/face area (blood or not) it's a penalty. This particular instance should be no different (even though Rittich wasn't really any worse for wear... unless of course a stick blade went through his cateye). The only difference here I see is that - being a goalie - he was more concerned with making a stop than throwing his head back and embellishing to get a call. Overall it boils down to risk/reward - yeah, I think I can pull this off without highsticking someone sooo... I'll give it a whirl. If I don't pull it off (or do something against the rules in doing so (like carry it in from the blue line)) then I live with the consequences.

A little off topic but to me it looks like he clips Rittich in the lid with his stick on the stuff - why isn't that high sticking? Seems there's a double standard on skaters versus goalies on stick contact. I'm not saying it needs to go down a rabbit hole like it has with players where dudes are diving on any stick to body contact (which I can't imagine you'd see much of since you need to keep battling to find pucks) or that incidental contact swinging at a loose puck in the air should be called necessarily but I've definitely seen egregious slashes on netminders called. I am in favor of calling anything that involves recklessly wielding ones stick (particularly if its in someone's grill). For that matter - even incidental contact to the head is called for players. In this instance (or if I'm seeing it wrong an instance similar to what I'm describing) - why wouldn't it be a minor for high sticking?

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