A Hurricane Punch Might Sucker Bruins in Game 6

The NHL ruled that Hurricane's Scott Walker will only be fined $2,500 and not suspended when he punched defenseless Bruin Aaron Ward with less than 3 minutes to go in a 4-0 Bruins' rout of Carolina in Game 5. On top of that, Jussi Jokinen wasn't even penalized after he nearly took Bruins' Captain Zdeno Chara out with a slash to the back of the left ankle near the end of the second period. It's bad enough that these cheap shots took place against two Bruins Defensemen (a position which is already depleated by injury), but for it to happen when the game was nearly out of hand and without consequence is shameful.

Now most in the 'Hub of Hockey' hope that the cheap shots and unfair rulings will only enrage and motivate the B's to a win in Game 6. However, if the Bruins focus all their effort on retaliation, then this could play right into the Hurricane's game plan. As we all know, when a team is over matched in the NHL they will often send a lesser player or 'instigator' to irritate a top player on the other team. If he doesn't spark his own team with his efforts, then he may just be able to get the more talented opposing player off the ice with a matching penalty.

As the better team, the Bruins need to be careful because should the B's Milan Lucic or Zdeno Chara seek revenge against the Cane's, then two of the Bruin's top players may be taken out of 'their game', or worse, the game. It will be hard enough for the Bruin's to climb out the series hole and win in Carolina, so let's hope the injustice done in Game 5 only motivates them to stick to their game plan in Game 6.