Shawn Thornton banned 15 games

[Denver Native (Carol)]

Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton was given a 15-game suspension by the NHL for attacking Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik during a Dec. 7 game at TD Garden, TSN reported Saturday.

Because Thornton was assessed a match penalty for the incident, he by rule has missed the Bruins' past three games while he awaited Friday's in-person disciplinary hearing with the NHL in New York. The suspension is the first of Thornton's career.

Thornton had originally attempted to get Orpik to drop the gloves after his hit on Loui Eriksson resulted in a concussion, but Orpik would not oblige. During a stoppage in play at 11:06 of the first period, Thornton grabbed Orpik from behind, slew-footing him to the ice and punching him twice in the head. Orpik suffered a concussion and was taken off the ice on a stretcher and transported to the hospital. Orpik was released shortly after and cleared to return with the team to Pittsburgh, but he says he does not remember anything from the game.

rest - http://espn.go.com/boston/nhl/story/_/id/10132176/shawn-thornton-boston-bruins-suspended-15-games-brooks-orpik-incident

[Broncolingus]

rest - http://espn.go.com/boston/nhl/story/_/id/10132176/shawn-thornton-boston-bruins-suspended-15-games-brooks-orpik-incident

Thx, Carol...no surprise.

Orpik isn't any alter boy, but he hadn't done anything to warrant Thorton going ape shit like that...

...he shouldn't play again this season, but hey, stuff like this is just part of the game and doesn't need to be banned, right :tsk:



http://youtu.be/GuVq-TZ7AJM

[WTE]

Orpik isn't any alter boy, but he hadn't done anything to warrant Thorton going ape shit like that...




Yeah he did, he concussed Ericsson earlier in the game and he hasn't played since. Had Orpik decided to settle their differences in the NHL's time honored tradition earlier none of this would have happened.

But that's the Penguins for you. They cheap shot you and then go hide behind the ref.

[PatriotsGuy]

I hate the Bruins but like Thornton. What he did was over the top and he deserves what he got.

[WTE]

I hate the Bruins but like Thornton. What he did was over the top and he deserves what he got.

Shoulda gotten 10, not 15.

Orpik shoulda served time too for what he did to Ericsson.

[GEM]

The knee to the head of the other guy didn't warrant this? That knee to the head wasn't warranted.

[WTE]

The knee to the head of the other guy didn't warrant this? That knee to the head wasn't warranted.

and the refs didn't even call a penalty on it. The refs have to share some of the blame w/ what happened in that penguins/Bruins game.