James Wisniewski has been suspended today for two games, for his "obscene gesture" towards Sean Avery of the Rangers.
A suspension had to be expected, but two games is one game too many. Mike Cammalleri got only one game for a jab with his stick to the face and a two-handed slash to the back of the leg of Nino Neiderreitter when the Islanders split-squad played the Canadiens during the preseason, but the Wiz gets two games for a hand gesture? That is a horrible ruling.
What makes the ruling even worse is that Avery made the same exact gesture to Wiz during warm-ups prior to this game.
According to Eklund, the league is looking into what Avery did, but so far no action has been taken.
As a fan, and someone who has played the game for 14 years, I can say for sure that this type of gesture is made all the time, and does not deserve a suspension. Is it wrong to make? Yes. It deserves an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for two minutes during the actual game. Since this incident was caught on camera, a monetary fine is deserving as well, but no suspension should be given, and definitely not for two games.
On a different note, the Islanders debuted a new goal song on Monday. The song is entitled "Live is Life" by Opus. The song was picked by Zenon Konopka, and the players signed a petition to have the team change the song. Zenon believes that this year the team is new, the goals are new, so the song should be new.
Even though it was very strange to hear a new goal song, if the Islanders can stay in the playoff race near the end of this season, the song will be embraced by all.
It is not right for him to get a 2 game suspension. Players do this all the time and this isn't fair. Also, Avery made the same gestures to Wisniewski. NHL should change their mind because all players do this and it is not right for them to penalize James Wisniewski. Avery is a BABY! HE DOES THAT ALL THE TIME. What a hypocrite. I am not happy about this
ReplyDeleteIf anything. Avery should get a suspension too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting! I'm sure Rob can agree with you. Avery should and most likely will get a suspension as well, as he did the same gesture to Wisniewski before the game in warm ups.
ReplyDeleteYeah hopefully they find a video of Avery doing it so they can get him as well.
ReplyDeleteHowever, whats done is done. Heres to hoping they can get atleast 2 point against the Pens and Caps wednesday and Friday without him.
Avery did it at warm-ups so they won't find a video of it, however, instead the suspension should be 1 game because since Camallari injured a player, thats worse than a gesture. The punishment for the gesture shouldn't make them suspended from a game, just give them a warning. Wisniewski didn't even realize he did it and most players on every team do gestures like these. And come on, it was a rivalry game!
ReplyDeleteWell,they have video of konopka and Dubinsky arguing, as well as Konopka and avery so they may have video of Avery's gesture, but I doubt it. But the fact that Wiz gets the same amount of time as Nick Hjarlmarsson of the Blackhawks did when Nick actually injured a guy, is ridiculous. It really is. The fact that two guys get the same length of suspension in the same day for two completely different things is ludicrous.
ReplyDeleteI agree. They did different things. Can this punishment be changed? This is not right. If the Rangers did this on TV they wouldn't be suspended but the Islanders are? I am furious about this. Please tell me Avery will get suspended too
ReplyDeleteI think that they can appeal, but judging from Wiz's statement earlier today, I think he is just gonna take the suspension and watch the two games and cheer the team on and jump back in to help the team beat the Avs on Saturday night.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to tell you that Avery will be suspended too, but sadly i dont think it will happen. I think now we can just hope the Isles deal with Avery their own way come the next time they play on December 2nd at the Coliseum.