Hockey fans, and especially those with access to the internet, seem to see things their way.  Video evidence, laws of physics, and consensus from multiple sources can not divert some people from their cause.  Penalties that never happened, injuries and hits that were completely innocent.  Can you see where I’m going with this?  Can you guess what’s next?

But this?  This is just wacky.  From Tom Benjamin of Canucks Corner:

It was a very late hit but it isn’t hard to make the case that Rome wasn’t the one to initiate contact. All he really did was hold his ground, stop and brace himself. Horton accelerated into him and provided almost all the force in the collision. Horton cannot skate from the centre line to the Canuck blueline without once looking to his right. Had he done so, he would cut to the inside and blow past a flatfooted Rome.

I think it’s impossible for all but the most dedicated to make that argument.  A step after a pass is accelerating?  Rome simple braced? What exactly did Rome brace against, as he left his feet to deliver a shoulder to chin check?  This is just insanity.  Blaming the victim never goes out of style.  Tom is a contrarian by nature in his columns.  He’s also very smart.  But he is one of only a few seeing this hit in this manner.  Good thing, because if you keep blaming the victim, things are going to get even more dangerous out there.

Luckily for everyone involved – including Rome himself – the league saw things the other way, and suspended Rome for 4 games, with any carry-over from the Finals being served next season.  It seems like just punishment.  The Bruins are losing a guy who’s been a factor in their playoff run, and the Canucks are losing a replaceable defenseman.  It’s as good as it’s going to get for the Bruins.

None of this is to say that the Canucks are the worst team ever, full of evil-doers and baby-killers.  This happens all over the league.  It’s not just a problem with one team, and 29 angels are watching in disgust.  But history isn’t on the Canucks side.  I don’t think this is the character of the Canucks, regardless of what has gone before.  I doubt there is a culture of violence and disregard for other players in the club.  But from the post-game press conferences I’ve seen after this series, there does seem to be a culture of denial and a lack of realistic assessment.  Coach speak and guarding your words is one thing.  This takes things to a whole other level.

If you want to see how bad this kind of thing can get from the fans, check out Ryan Classic’s post from last night, showing how one person on twitter can take ugly to other realms.  Be warned, it’s not even close to Safe For Work.

All of this said, here is what I said on Twitter last night, and I stand by it today.  Enough already.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/tapeleg/status/77903807593447424″]