FanPost

How much did Chara's size factor into the Pacioretty hit?

I'm a big guy. Maybe that's why I empathize with Zdeno Chara a bit. So now I'm wondering what users here think.

How much did Chara's size have to do with Paciretty getting injured?

I personally feel that some fans just don't understand big guys like Chara (the league apparently does). I think Pacioretty got injured mostly because Chara is a big man. And it's not being talked about. If Andrew Ference made the hit, does Pacioretty bend or even go into the turnbuckle at all? Should the NHL hold bigger guys to a different standard, maybe the same way many feel they hold enforcers to a different standard?

I know some will look at Patches' speed and where he was trying to go and say that it wouldn't have taken much to push him into that dangerous area. If you take that line, than a guy Ference's size or anyone really could've done the same damage because of momentum and where the hit was located, into the dangerous turnbuckle. In that sense, I agree with what Gomez said:

"When it comes to the pole and the door, it's like hitting a guy from behind. Since Day 1, you're taught not to do that. When you see a door open in an NHL game, you'll hear 15 guys yelling, 'Door! Door! Door!, no matter who the guy nearing it plays for."

It's true - Chara had to have known it was near. But I'm also thinking there was a bigger concern on his mind. I think he was sensing more that Pacioretty could've been going on a breakaway with 20 seconds left (a cardinal sin for a defenseman to allow). So you have to slow that attacker down somewhat. And I believe Chara's claim that he didn't know it was Patches coming at him (the two have a bad history supposedly). It's plausible. In close, I've lost sense on which opposing player is near me many times. They're just in another color jersey and that's all you care about. You have to slow that guy down. Time's ticking. Chara lines him up, then senses it won't be enough, he's getting beat. So he illegally sticks out his arm and pushes him a little more and at least hope it slows the attacker and the clock will run out. And Chara underestimates his strength.

I can't tell you how many times I have reached out my arm or just leaned a bit and guys fall. I'm 6'3 200lbs. Nearly everyone is smaller. Sometimes guys just fall when you push a little bit. And leaning on guys, clutching & grabbing a bit is the only way to slow the younger speedsters down. In that sense, I also agree with Spector from Sportsnet.ca:

Pacioretty had every reason to believe he was entering a very dangerous spot, yet he went in there like a defenceman turning his back to the ice, counting on the rulebook to protect him.

Smaller guys have to know the situation they're going into there. And sometimes big guys underestimate their own strength. Pacioretty was going so fast that it certainly made a bigger difference. You gotta use common sense as an attacking player. It's the same feeling when you try for a corner and the D-man goes down for a hip check, and you're like - uh oh.

As for the glove in the face picture? If it was a smaller guy, the hand is in his chest. Or perhaps Pacioretty is still balanced.

I'm sure we were reminded that Jack Johnson had a similar turnbuckle hit on Ryan Smyth, but the situation & position were much different IMHO. Smyth didn't see it coming; Pacioretty knew what he was going into: he was trying to outrace the biggest guy in the NHL in a small space: Risky. I believe this was a factor in the league's decision, especially since I think Johnson's hit was worse and got no suspension. Patches didn't get blindsided, he took a gamble. If you enjoyed Scott Stevens taking out Paul Kariya in 2003, how can you be critical of Chara's hit? Stevens & Johnson both caught skaters with their heads down. That can't be said of the Chara hit.

All that said, you have to feel for Patches & his family and I really hope to see him skating in a Canadians uniform soon.

But go ahead an vote, was it Chara's size more than anything else that doomed Pacioretty?


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