The Carcillo Situation
I wouldn’t say that I’m a huge Dan Carcillo fan. In fact, I’ve written before how he can actually be a detriment to his hockey team with his extra-curricular activities following a fight or for abusing the officials.
However, I do know he has value to the Phoenix Coyotes because at 5′ 11″, he plays like a guy 6′ 4″ (or more). He is the one of the few who brings it every night, willing to hit, and willing to take a hit so that his team can be successful.
For the past few games, Carcillo has been unfairly maligned in the eyes of the officials on the ice. Clearly, Carcillo is not an angel, and I do recognize that. However, he doesn’t cause trouble and skate away like some players in the NHL. He takes the heat and by doing so it sparks his team.
Whether there is a conspiracy afoot, or just plain incompetence, remains to be seen (but in this case, I lean to the conspiracy theory), but last night against the Los Angeles Kings was the first time ever I saw a five-minute major penalty called for interference with a game misconduct tacked on for good measure.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnd6fw9cr-o&hl=en]
How hurt was Tom Preissing after the forceful check by Carcillo? Enough to score in the waning seconds of the major penalty.
It’s up to Carcillo to take the target off of his back, but if he keeps playing like he has in the last two weeks or so, where the excessive PIMs were unfairly charged against him, sooner or later that bull’s eye will go away. Because the team needs him and the team needs more like him to battle in the Western Conference.
