GAME THREAD: Steelers v. Devils.. Sun, 14th November.

[Jayboy]

After reading the Inferno, I see the Devil's fans are promising all kinds of dire retribution to be visited on Ellerby by Louis. And they're also wanting Cons sorted out. It reminds me of my days in the schoolyard, "So and so is going to get you at playtime". If any such punishment is dished out, like the pre-arranged fights of the old days, in my eyes it makes them just as bad as the original perpetrators. Ellerby's hit was illegal and probably premeditated. The "punishment" was doled out on match night, and subsequently by DOPS. Louis clearly punched Ellerby when he was turtled, yet that gets no mention.

It's all completely hot air by a bunch of high rate fans, they can't promise anything short of turning up to boo if they wish. DOPS as ruled rightly or wrongly and I would take issue with saying it was probably premeditated, because there is no way he would have been able to plan that action in that exact way and know how and when to do it, which is what premeditation is (thought out and planned) Louis and or Cardiff would then stand accused of the same premeditated action.. and I very much doubt anyone in the Cardiff dressing room is listening to the fans or other social media on this incident. Yes it was a awful hit and he deserved to be punished, and he has been and hopefully we dont see a repeat. but it's getting to be a bit of a witch hunt now led by the social media circus.. this time next month it will be cyber code hidden online somewhere!

Premeditated
/(ˌ)priːˈmɛdɪteɪtɪd/

(of an action, especially a crime) thought out or planned beforehand.

Jay,
My point of view through Devils specs
With regards the premeditated circumstance, you are correct in that Ellerby didn't set out that evening planning on making a hit to the head of any sort.
What I would say though is that 8-10 feet from the boards he saw Duggan in that position' had the opportunity to not go through with the hit but decided to go for it.
In that respect, it was a planned action.
With regards to the promised retribution on the Inferno, my opinion is that Ellerby should/will be asked to fight and he should take it. He's not been shy of dropping the gloves in his career.
For anyone saying he has already faced up to Louis is wrong in my opinion, he dropped to the ice as soon as he could for protection. Yes Louis put a couple of punches in when he was down but they were to his helmet. Not right and not Louis's style but probably showed his frustration with Ellerby
He should fight early in the game and have done with it. He may actually win the fight.
After that nothing else should carry over from previous game, such as the stuff that's been mentioned on the Inferno.
Just my opinion as someone that doesn't have to do the fighting!!!!

I will have no issue at all if Louis asks him a few questions in the next game, he deserves at least that and thats the way hockey should be.. If Ellerby declines then thats fair enough also and nothing more should come of it, nobody says they have to be best mates and I am sure he will receive a frosty reception. but its Hockey not tiddly winks, he is a big boy now..

[SteelerBlade]

I’m not sure when we play Cardiff next, but Ellerby has very recently had his fish bowl helmet removed for a facial injury, hence the turtle.

He won’t be interested in going (& rightly so) until he is 100% confident in the healing.

If he does end up going, I hope he first declines then forces most likely Mark Louis into an instigator penalty for an easy, ill-disciplined PP in our favour.