Would've been a huge clean hit if the puck got to him, but it hit a stick and deflected away. Don't think he intended to injure him but ended up being dirty. Hope he's okay.

Even if the puck doesn't get deflected, that was a suicide pass. He's getting lit up anyway. Hopefully he's good to go. More injuries is something the pens don't need.

Regardless of what team you cheer for, it is hard to see someone be that shaken up by a hit, especially when he didn't have the puck. I hope he is okay!

Wow people. plz give me a break. he anticipated the pass being completed. risto has never been a dirty player. And no he didn't cheapshot anyone. had that puck not been tapped by buffalo he would be had it on his stick when he got hit. And saying his head was principle point of contact is bs. he went backwards into him with his but. dude ran into a wall. Yeah it's bad he got hurt. hope he's ok. But it wasn't intentionally cheap shot.

In slow motion its two seconds yes announcers, but no Ristolainen does not have all day to get out of the way, the puck got deflected by Girgensons last second, still a penalty obviously, but Guentzel's head is down as well unfortunately which you obviously want your head up, but then again he was looking for the puck. In my opinion, since it was interference and he was bloody it should have been a 4 minute double minor, Ristolainen did not intentionally try to hurt him, just trying to make a play, and unfortunately the puck got tipped last second, with Guentzel's head down. Once again, understand the speed that the game is being played at too.

Sheesh these Pittsburgh announcers are acting like this was the worst hit they've seen it wasn't even purposely dirty like chill out

Love Crosby, but that was a suicide pass if I've ever seen one

For those wondering, he was diagnosed with a concussion. Huge loss for the pens as again almost half their team is from the AHL again. Hope Jake gets better soon though!

that was not the dirtiest hit like they say. he had his back turned. rule number one in hockey. keep your head up and you won't be scraped off the ice

would have been a clean hit had girgensons not intercepted the pass that was going to the penguins player. Rasmus had him lined up and was unable to see that the penguins player did not have the puck as his back was turned for the hit. bad luck makes this a bad hit. also it IS LEGAL to hit with your back and when a player who's as tall as Rasmus hits there's a higher chance or connecting to the head. No suspension because he has No History, no malice intentions, did not target the head, did not elbow, did not raise his arms and did not raise his stick. this hit also should not have resulted In an ejection. it was an interference penalty and nothing more.

Hope he's ok!

It's just a matter of Guentzel didn't actually have the puck, otherwise it would have been a huge hit.

Man I just saw this on tv hope he's ok he's a good player

Penalty worthy, but don't think he should have been thrown out.

God I love Guentzel. he plays with such heart and this play he accepted makes me love him even more and to try to get back up shows that he is not a quiter. get well bud we sure will need ya.

im a huge fan of both the pens and guentzel as a player, and i will even admit that the hit was clean. The speed of these games is insane and by the time the puck was deflected risto was already too committed to the hit. Its awful seeing such a young player get hammered, but you cant attack risto for not being able to stop his body

Head shot? No. Charging? No. Left his feet? No. Major interference? Yes. If the pass wasn't cut off it'd of been a good solid hit but because one of thing being off he'll most likely get 2 or 3 for it.

Not a dirty hit - this was a bang-bang play. Crosby’s idiotic suicide pass got deflected in the last second. Looked like Guentzel got hurt when his visor/helmet hit the ice.

That pass from Sid was half of the problem. That was a bad pass, he should know better than that.

Kid seems like a great guy and quality player for his rookie year. Sad to see this isn't the first time he's been involved with a hit like this

It sucks though because risto thought the pass was going to him and he could stop in time. He shouldn't have had his back turned to him thought. But it makes up for Crosby hitting ROR in the nuts.

looks like he anticipated him to pickup the pass and committed but pass never ended up getting to the kid. The ejection makes total sense and is the right call but i doubt this will be looked at for suspension, dont really think it was intent to injure or nothing.

it would've been a clean hit if girgensons never deflected it away. it seemed like an accidental penalty. shouldn't be a misconduct in my opinion

Man Crosby is a hero helping guentzel when he’s struggling to get up I love him

These announcers are some of the biggest homers I have ever had to listen to

Risto thought he was gonna get the puck, bad assumption, nothing intentional by him, few games imo

Roast-olainen? Must be a Penguins commentator

Hit's so late and head down but the actual contact of the hit is just a hard body on body hit. Shouldn't have been a major, should have been 2 minutes for interference.

Love how Crosby rushed to the defense of his young player on the team he leads. What a warrior, always leading with example that guy

Went for the Kronwall but unfortunately the puck wound up getting deflected. Yes the hit was an illegal one but I don't believe it should've been a misconduct. Should've been an interference penalty escalated to maybe a 4 minute one at the most.

considering what the commentator is talking about, this must be the first hockey game he is seeing, to judge that as a "terrible terrible hit". If the puck wasn't deflected, i think the commentator would have been cheering a huge hit. And i think there should be some responsibility on Guentzel too, look where he is looking when he starts skating.

Kronwalld + Interference + Head down

18 game suspension just cause its hockey and we never get anything right. Try to spear a guys eye out with your stick? 8 games. Tap a ref with your stick? 10 games and your lucky your still in the league.

Update: Guentzel ended up being fine. More than fine.

At the end of the day this is old hockey whether we like it or not, the league got sensitive on injuries so this has to be a misconduct. 15 years ago, we would be praising Ristolainen for reading the play and seeing the suicide pass coming and lining up his man for a big open ice hit. if anything it would be 2 min for interference. We also have to take note how much faster players have gotten, bigger and stronger which plays a huge factor in players getting hurt when they deliver these big open ice body checks

really feel bad for the guy. sad to see a guy get shaken up that bad. get better bud.

Sad to see player injured. As to the hit itself. It was not with intention to injure or what you would call a "dirty" hit. But the fact remains, it was a hit to a player without the puck and thus a player that was ineglible to be checked. Should the checked player had puck, it would have been worderful check and hit! Ristolainen has never been dirty player, not in NHL nor in Liiga or juniors back here in Finland. However, he did inflick and injury to other player and did it with an illegal hit to defenless opponent and that is always extremely dangerous. I think that NHL should give him short suspension, 1-2 games max. Even if this was not dirty, it was dangerous play that every hockey player should always do his best to avoid. And I think that NHL should pay more attention to reminding players of their responsibility to each others in situations like this. And short suspension would serve as reminder. This coming from huge Ristolainen fan and his countrymen, but also Pittsburgh fan.

Sooo let me get this straight: This gets a hearing with Player Safety, but not Crosby slashing a dude in the groin from behind while the play was 20 feet away from him? K.

to be fair it did look like the puck was gonna make it there and maybe a second before this dude gets hit the buffalo player deflects the pass.. not sure what else he was supposed to do there

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As a Pens fan, I think 2 things: 1) That was an illegal hit. Not a dirty hit, not a cheap shot, but illegal. It's big time interference, borderline charging (if "moonwalking" into a guy can be considered charging). It shouldn't draw a suspension. As far as the game misconduct, I can see both sides of the argument. 2) Yes, I know... the Pens TV announcers (Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey) are an embarrassment, they are so bad. What makes it worse is that the Pens radio announcers (Mike Lange and Phil Bourque) are fantastic. Lange and Bourque are easy to listen to and fair in either praising the other team or criticizing the Pens. Steigerwald and Errey are like ultra-homer nails on a chalkboard.

just curious if there is a youtube video of crosby's stick to oreilley's sack? i am interested to see the comments on that. no penalty on the play so i guess the refs missed it. if the NHL reviews this hit by ristolainen and he gets suspended for intent would the crosby hit to the sack also be worthy of a suspension or did he not intend to do that? again no penalty on that play but does anyone think there was intent to hit oreilly in the balls and if so is that worthy of a suspension? is that a play worthy of 2 minutes in the box or does the NHL allow that type of a play not only during the game but also after meaning not a suspension? trying to understand how the NHL views this type of play. no penalty no foul?

Wasn't really a cheap shot, he was anticipating the play and had already committed. Penalty worthy, but maybe not a five.

Suicide pass that got deflected. Unfortunate. Hope he's okay. No suspension.

There was no intent to injure by risto got deflected so that's why there was the penalty. There's no way you're going to be able to stop that from happened whether the puck got deflected or not and he was facing the other way and obviously didn't see the puck get deflected. Good job by the refs making sure it didn't get out of hand after play stopped. Hope he doesn't get and extensive suspension for a mistake that happens numerous times in hockey

Just remember what happened before the hit was made.

Not defending this hit because it was illegal but if you're Sidney Crosby you have to have the awareness of who is on the ice. Not fair to toss a rookie a suicide pass like that. Right call and hope he's ok but Risto shouldn't be suspended it's a hockey play.

That wasn't Ristolinens fault it from his pov it probably looked like the guy had the puck and I think he realized last second so that's why he turned and tried to stop

I didnt see him coming, I was reversing.

This is just an opinion, but had he gotten the puck, it would have been a clean hit. I wouldn't have liked it because I'm a Penguin fan, but it would have been clean. Not a great pass by Sid and it's unfortunate because no matter what team you are rooting for, you never want to see someone shaken up like that. It's hard to watch.

that's exactly why you watch your hits. I really wasn't watching just skating backwards into him when he wasn't ready for a hit because the puck got deflected. he watches and let's up even a little bit, he was going to hit him regardless because he was already committed, possibly just a 2 minute interference call from contact with Guentzel if he let up a maybe even just a little. being that big also didn't help his cause either.

Man what was Crosby thinking with that pass? That's such a risky play that never works, passing through a guy's legs from behind. Such a suicide pass. And had it not been for the puck being deflected it would have been a huge clean hit, no problem with it. We've seen Kronwall make this sort of hit all the time but now that it's by a big guy against the pens it's dirty? Come on. His back end went entirely into his chest, yeah his head snapped but that's just because he stopped so quickly. He got the concussion and the cut from the way he landed, not the way he was hit. Yeah it's unfortunate and you hate to see a guy get hurt but it's not like Ristolainen meant to hurt the guy. He was anticipating the suicide pass and unfortunately he didn't have time to let up. I'd give him 5 and a game at most but not suspension worthy. Just accidental and pure bad luck.

Not as dirty as the homer commentators made it out to be. It took them like 5 slow-mo replays to make up their mind.

he coasted in. didn't charge. and was reading the puck. I'm a guentzel fan but that wasnt a dirty hit.

Why does everyone seem to be just rocking Guentzel this year...

Oblivious most ppl who comment here have never played competitive hockey. That being said, most players can stop on a dime at full speed in a fraction of a second.

Aside from Guentzle not having the puck the only problem I see with the hit is Riso leaving the ice before contact.

Puck didin't get trough, ristolainen had it lined up well already. In slow mo it looks like there is time to quit but I think in real time skating backwards that time isn't enough. Definitely doesn't go for a high hit. It's just suidice pass, receiver looking backwards for it having head down (thats another suidice). I agree that inteference is a inteference though, even if accidental. Good penalty but not intentional interference by risto. Also definitely not a high hit, more like a low head. Many times you see players just putting their stick to ice, facing forwards in suidice situations like that, hoping the passer hits your stick. If you look back and crouch down, bad things can happen and it might go trough as a clean hit if you touch the puck.

Ristolainen 🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮

Fan of neither team-Guentzel never touched puck, plenty of time passed;Risto responsi ble for his actions,player injury,no accidents in hockey, I'm good with penalties.

That shouldn't be a misconduct. An interference would be deserved because the puck got deflected away before he got it.

So, the guy has his head down, the puck is going to him and is deflected .25 seconds before he gets hit when Risto has him lined up already. He hits him with his butt, a perfectly legit hip check, and he gets suspended for 3 games? But, in the same game, Crosby goes up to Ryan O'Rielly who is turned around in front of the net on defense and puts his stick between his legs and lifts it into his nuts, but Crosby doesn't get a penalty or suspension. Ok NHL. You wonder why MLS and NASCAR are now more popular than you. Why don't you have another lockout.

Guentzel needs to get his head up same thing happened to Laine.

Philly welcomes you Rasmus.

"Little boy gets destroyed by Viking"

Lmao you guys are so wishy-washy in the comments sometimes. If he has the puck and Subban makes that same check (like he does when he booms somebody) then it's a glorious hit. Regardless, I think it was an ill advised check from Rasmus to throw the body in that position

How is this a misconduct when Crosby hitting a dude in the nuts isn't anything

Is Crosby going to get a talking to as well for chopping O'Reilly's cajones?

Judging from the clip it would've been the same outcome if he had gotten the puck or not.

He had the time to see the puck didn't get through. Awful hit.

Shouldn't have been a misconduct, if girgensons never touches the puck it's a clean hit. 'It's a terrible hit' your a terrible announcer.

He deserved the penalty

Feel awful for Guentzel, a bit of a suey from Sid. Definitely a dirty hit from Risto but he's anticipating the play. Wish none of that would have happened

Can we all just look at that pass... Buddy didn't even have his head up. If he had the puck or not, that hit wasn't going to end well for Guentzel

I was about to say he didn't even hit him hard. But then they showed a different angle and he didn't have the puck at all. Doesn't help that Risto was skating backwards. Should be a few games for interference.

Kronwall has made similar hits throughout his career yet no one batted an eye

Must be tough to be a Sabres fan. A franchise so terrible all they have to cheer for is injuring an opposing player.

going to be add an interesting element for the rivalry

Sickening.

Not necessary... whatsoever

I don't care who you are or what team you are on you don't hit a kid...

bad pass idea for Crosby. he put the guy in a bad position to start. but horrid hit by Ristolinen. 1 game at least for that

Don't see Sid giving such friendly passes very often, regardless if it reached Guentzel or not he was getting hammered because of it :/

Great hit! lmao love it!

Crosby was lucky that wasn't him. After slashing O'Reilly in the balls 2 minutes earlier Risto was out to get him.

would've been a great hit if the puck didn't get deflected lul

Great to see his teammates stand up for him...

Oh my god that was the most cleanest hit everyone favors the stupid penguins I'm sick of it

A dirty hit

Damn, bad luck for Ristolainen, he anticipated the pass for Guantzel but it got deflected. Would have been a huge clean hit if Guantzel got that pass.

Ryan Reaves will say Hi to him next season.

Nice hit

Crosby with a beauty of a suicide pass.

Damn basically everyone in the comments just finds a way to blame the pens

I'f it wasn't for girgensons deflecting the pass it's a clean hit. I don't know what more you want ristolianen even turned to his back.

This is on the passer, just like going over the middle in the NFL your head has to be on a swivel. The puck obviously was headed in Guentz' direction got deflected and his head was on the puck. Now to claim there was INTENT to injure from a guy like Risto is ridiculous. He set him self up to take a big hit as well, wake up this isn't about bias. It's about a clear rule change that will need to take effect. I don't know how they'll fix this one but, Risto lined him up perfectly and could've easily injured himself trying to avoid the hit. Hockey is the most perplexing sport nowadays. It's can't be too far off that the NHL will look like Premier FLOPPERS. Friggen Dion Phaneuf was crying like a baby last night. Even tough guys are flopping like Trump tweets now.

i was watching this game and automatically thought "concussion" I hope he is ok !!!

Tried to hit like Kronwall.. gets to go sit next to the wall for the rest of the game

and boom goes the dynamite

Like in NHL 17 when you think the guy you're gonna hit is about to get the puck but the pass is intercepted lol