Betts done, NHL suspends Brashear

April 27, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

The NHL has suspended Washington forward Donald Brashear six games for his dangerous cheap high hit on Ranger center Blair Betts which knocked him out of Game Six yesterday.

The Ranger penalty killing fixture had to be helped off the ice after playing only two shifts before the late cheapshot finished him for the series. He suffered a broken bone in his eye socket and won’t be available for the winner take all Game Seven tomorrow night at Verizon Center.

“Brashear delivered a shoulder hit to an unsuspecting player,” NHL senior executive VP of hockey operations Colin Campbell said. “It is also my opinion that the hit was delivered late and targeted the head of his opponent, causing significant injury.”

Brashear will miss tomorrow’s game and an additional five. The latter will depend on who advances. If the Caps do, then he won’t be available for the first five games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. If not, then he would serve the rest of the suspension at the start of the 2009-10 season.

The suspension was the second of the series coming on the heels of Ranger coach John Tortorella missing Game Six for his foolish behavior with Cap fans during Game Five. Regrettably, he wouldn’t take responsibility for his actions. Typical of the arrogance he’s displayed since taking over for Tom Renney. I like him as a coach because he’s no nonsense. However, he needs to show more maturity with this other nonsense as it reflects poorly on the Ranger organization. If the team doesn’t respond tomorrow, you can make a valid argument that Tort’s silly nature cost them the series.

The Rangers will be minus their PK leader when they take the ice for Game Seven. Can they use it as extra incentive?

“Bettsie is a huge part of our team. He brings so many intangibles to our team that are so often looked over, so it’s going to be tough. But we will all have to step up and rise to the occasion,” teammate Brandon Dubinsky pointed out. “Anytime a tough competitor and a teammate goes down, you can use it as motivation.”

Good teams overcome adversity. If it’s true the Caps have proven themselves better in this series, then it’s also true that earlier on, the not as talented Rangers displayed grit and character putting themselves in position to pull the upset. No matter how bad they were the last two games, that’s over and done with. Show up and win tomorrow.

Nothing else matters.

Anisimov Gets Call: Artem Anisimov has been recalled for Game 7 tomorrow night. The former 2006 second round pick had a breakout second pro season with the Wolf Pack posting 37 goals, 44 assists for 81 points which placed fifth in AHL scoring. His 37 markers placed fourth overall and his eight deciders tied him for third.

In Hartford’s first round six-game defeat to Worcester, the 20 year-old Russian tallied two goals including the game-winner in Game One. He made his NHL debut with the Rangers on Feb.3 against Atlanta finishing without a point.

Now, he’ll likely get a big opportunity in an elimination game facing countryman Alex Ovechkin along with fellow Russians Alex Semin, Sergei Fedorov, Viktor Kozlov and Simeon Varlamov. It only adds another interesting plot to what’s been a topsy turvy series.

Might Anisimov make a first impression? We’re just over 25 hours away from finding out.