Even though the Maple Leafs have the last change, Alexei Yashin will never have an easier time shedding his 202-pound shadow than he will tonight.
The Maple Leafs learned last night that Shayne Corson has been suspended for Game 7 against the Islanders for his attempted kick at Islanders defenceman Eric Cairns during a fight at 18:10 of the third period of Game 6 Sunday night. NHL vice-president Colin Campbell handed down the suspension, saying that the fact that Corson had been fined $1,000 (U.S.) for a slashing incident on Dave Scatchard in Game 1 had a bearing on his decision.
"After a thorough review of the game circumstances and the videotape, it is clear that Mr. Corson's kicking action was deliberate and dangerous," Campbell said in a prepared statement. "In reaching this decision, I also took into consideration that there is nothing in playing the game that would justify kicking your opponent and that Mr. Corson had been fined earlier in the series as a result of a match penalty for a slashing incident in Game 1."
Corson could not be reached for comment, but his brother-in-law and teammate Darcy Tucker said Corson was taken aback by the ruling.
"He's pretty upset," Tucker said, "especially since it's Game 7."
Tucker said he thought the punishment was severe considering the fact that Corson claimed that Cairns pulled his hair and head-butted him during the same fight.
"If there was contact, maybe there would be a problem, but (Corson) didn't even touch (Cairns) and that's what makes it so ridiculous," Tucker said. "But I guess head-butting is fine. That must be a new part of the game. Tell me the difference."
That leaves the Leafs entering their most important game of the year without their captain and best player (Mats Sundin), one of their best defencemen (Dmitry Yushkevich), likely one of their best players along the boards and in the corners (Mikael Renberg) and their best defensive forward (Corson).
"It's just motivation for us," Tucker said. "Another thing that motivates us."
Maple Leafs GM-coach Pat Quinn said he didn't think that Corson made a kicking motion during the fight.
"It was anatomically impossible for (Corson) to kick (Cairns) where he was," Quinn said. "(Corson) brought his knee up, but there was no kick."
The Islanders were livid with Corson and Cairns said Corson's actions broke hockey's somewhat warped code of honour.
"For him to try to kick me when I'm down, that's above and beyond," Cairns said.
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i get it, you shatter a guys' face with a clothesline and that gets you two games, attempting to maybe kick a guy is a game, elbowing is the rest of the playoffs plus 8 games, hair pulling and head butting is no penalty. when you're a leaf charging across the ice and hitting a guy gets you 5 minutes but when your an isle charging across the ice the smashing a guy in the face with your stick (drawing blood) is no penalty.
yes, it all makes sense now.
that's a pretty clear - you're playing for an american team against a canadian team so no suspension for you trend
