By Joseph Durie
Headshots were back in the news this week as there were a few dangerous hits that resulted in major injuries this week in the NHL.
The week started off with Tuomo Ruutu crushing Darcy Tucker into the boards from behind. Tucker was taken off the ice on a stretcher and is currently on the injured reserve list with a concussion. Ruutu was suspended for three games for the hit.
David Booth was then knocked out of the game between Florida and Philadelphia by a hit in the neutral zone by Mike Richards. Booth had just passed the puck and was cutting across the middle when Richards hit him high under the chin with his shoulder.
Booth seemed to be knocked out before he hit the ice, and play was stopped for several minutes while medical officials attended to him. He was eventually stretchered off and taken to a local hospital.
Richards was assessed a five-minute major and ejected from the game. However, he was not suspended by the NHL for the hit.
The debate continues whether hits like Richards should be made illegal, I believe it was a legal hit and Booth was doing what he just should not be doing. You are taught to never watch your pass when you are cutting across the middle of the ice.
It was unfortunate that Booth was injured the way he was but it is the nature of the beast. You are told to keep your head up and the hard physical nature of hits like this make the NHL the toughest sporting league in the world and sets it apart from any other.
The NHL was also struck with swine flu this week with 3 players being confirmed with the H1N1 virus. Not doubt these will be the first of many for the season.
The game of the week was the matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs, who finally got their first win of the season against Anahiem this week, before losing a late lead and then falling in overtime to the Dallas Stars two days later.
In a spirited match between the divisional rivals Buffalo were leading into the last minute before Toronto tied it with 39 seconds remaining with a short-handed goal.
However the Sabres finished the game shortly into overtime with a power play goal for Tim Connolly.
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