Testing continues for Ward

Thanks Fluto. Keep us updated.

I don't know if people realize how inmportant Ward is. He is big and strong and can handle Stall and or Cole if they decide to stay out of Chara's corner. It will take something serious to keep him out of the lineup.

Hopefully he can play with a cage or something, we need him. Our reserve of D is getting thin.

Who's the likely call-up to replace Ward?

Feel better, Wardo....

The guys in Providence needn't worry. Ward will play unless his eye is dangling from the socket. Even then, he'll use it to club the Canes in the head. Aaron Ward is the Bill Brasky of the 2008-09 Bruins.

Boychuk?

Boychuk most likely....right shot....solid....

Ward probably has nothing but a bruise. The Bruins are trying to use the media to goad Campbell in handing out a suspension.

Ward...next time a guy you're battling with drops his gloves and threatens to punch...don't stick your face out with your hands by your side to give him a better target. Let Sean Avery do those things.

I'm going to the Providence game tonight (game 5), so it should be interesting if any blueliners are missing...

Thanks Fluto for the info. Any word from the NHL on Walker's Hit to Ward?

I wish Walker wouldn't get suspended. The beating he would take all game would be great.

Any chance Boychuck could be the call up if Wardo can't go?

Also any word on Campbell talking to Walker? I swear if Campbell doesn't suspend Walker this guy is the most inconsistent person on the face of this earth. Looch acted with "reckless abandon," well what about Walker?

If ward can't go i bet Reich comes up. He is almost as physical as Ward, just not as good, but i think he is our number one black ace down there.

Carolina has no idea what they did last night resorting to the cheap Flyer style of hockey. We now have the tight knit B's team looking to prove who is not only the better team, but also the toughest. The drivers side wheel came off the Carolina bus last night, get ready to see it crash on Tuesday and Thursday night.

Fluto,
If Ward is a no go, who are the most likely candidates to be called up from the P- Bruins?

lets hope that AW is back, he is a solid player and a good guy

what a cheap shot

Any ideas about who from providence bs would be the likely replacement defenseman?

Bring on BITZ

Probably Boychuck if I had to guess. Think he's the only one left who's been up with the team this season, so unless someone else has been tearing it up in Providence...

And what is the response from the NHL for the act of cowardice that has put Aaron Ward in this position?

Wardo-

Are you slow or just 100% idiot.? Ward was actually tangling with another player when Walker came over and dropped his gloves and sucker punched Ward. Put the helmet back on.

Walker gets an automatic 1 game suspension because he got an instigator penalty in the last 5 minutes of the game.

Ward is one of those unsung hero types and a steadying influence back there. Just watch Montador fumble and bumble with the puck every time it's on his stick - you've got to keep his minutes limited.

I saw that Hunwick Skated this morning. Not that I think he'd be ready to play tomorrow, but hopefully soon WHEN we advance.

The 'Canes are going to soon find out that 2 moments of pleasure by giving cheap shots are not going to be worth getting a beating for 2 games. Sorry!

Cheapest sucker punch in hockey since the Bertuzzi/Moore incident...along with Jokinen's cheap slash and Paul Maurice's comments after the game...

With Hunwick and Ference already injured, the intent from the Canes bench was clear: Go after the rest of the Bruin's defensemen.

What a bunch of clowns

Any word on a punishment for that TOOL that threw the cheap shot?

DISS-UGH-PLINN!!!!

I doubt Boychuck, he didnt play much this year and didnt look that good when he did play. He's not ready for play off hockey. Riech has been to the playoffs with the B's before (see last year) so if anyone comes up its him i think. I have a bad feeling about Ward right now. I know its the playoffs but if its an orbital bone, and he can't see well then he isn't helping the team by playing.

Happened right in front of us.

Go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLnEDFaDEdA

...and look carefully at 0:10 to 0:16. Worst sucker-punch you'll see in a long time. Ward was looking at the Canes player who went down behind him, turns back to Walker, hands down at his side and gloves on, and Walker just cold-cocks him.

If there's any doubt in your mind, look at Walker's reaction -- he immediately stopped swinging and looked down at Ward like he knew he'd done something wrong.

I honestly don't know how to classify this in terms of a suspension, but there's no question it was against the Code.

No suspension.. $2500 fine

The Bruins lost 3 straight pretty badly, but never took 2 handers to ankles behind the star players back, or sucker punched anyone. They were embarrassed and humbled because they lost simply because the other team played harder and wanted it more.

These no-class losers from Carolina got their butts handed to them last night by a team that hustled outplayed them in every sense of the term, and except for turtling on a few fights, they resorted to cowardly acts where they could have hurt someone pretty badly. What a telling way to show what you're made of. Lose with your dignity intact and make no excuses like the Bruins did OR slash and sucker punch your way out of town like the blowhards.

No class.

Let's hope last nights disgusting display energized the B's so we can all enjoy a crushing defeat to these jerks in game 7.

Agreed, the Raleigh paper is announcing that, no suspension, $2500 fine

Agreed, Raleigh paper stating $2500/no suspension

Hey Reggie... make that "Walker"

It's an automatic 1 game suspension, but it SHOULD be more. They should also look at the slash on Chara. The two-hander could have been a match penalty, and Jokinen should be suspended. And they should fine the scumbag Maurice for his comments.

A disgraceful act from all three.

Go Canes !!!!!!!

SI is saying he's not even getting the one game suspension. Is there anyone more inconsistent than Colin 'the clown' Campbell? He makes Bob Watson look like King Soloman

No one here asked why Walker punched Aaron Ward. Granted, he should not have. But he was the only one who stood up for his goalie. Earlier Aaron Ward had pushed goalie Cam Ward face down on the ice and hammered on his head with his stick 6-7 times. The ref stood right there and watched it. VS replayed it several times, everyone wondering why there was no call. Walker retaliated and got Ward for hammering on Cam Wards head with his stick.

Should Walker be fined or suspended? Yes. Should Aaron Ward be suspended for hammering his stick into the goalie he's holding down on the ice? Yes.

That's right, the Bruins are first class, above board, good little citizens. You know, like when Chara sits on a man, punches him in the back of the head and drives his face into the ice. Not to mention the number of times your boys lead with elbows to the head and face. Get over yourselves!

deal with Walker next season.

Does anyone else think the slash from Jokinen hit the ice and not Chara's ankle? I cannot find video anywhere that shows it hit his ankle.

No suspension by the NHL for Walker. Good. I hope when his head is rolling around on the ice and the Bruin that did it say's "I thought I was involved in an altercation." the NHL will make the same ruling. Hopefully their coach will find that amusing as well.

Perfect..... we didnt want him suspended. The B's need to forget about Walker and worry about scoring goals down in Carolina. when the time comes, Walker will get what he knows is coming for him. Hopefully it will be handled sometime next season.
If Juilleen has any say, your going to see a well disciplined team tomorrow night; let the goon stuff come into play at another time. We can not afford to lose either Thornton or Lucic

straight from nhl.com

RALEIGH, NC -- The National Hockey League today announced that Hurricanes forward Scott Walker has been fined $2,500 for an incident that occurred at the 17:13 mark of the third period of Game 5 against the Boston Bruins. There will be no additional punishment assessed.

"We are satisfied with the league's ruling," said Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford. "After our team received several punches throughout the series leading up to Game 5, it was a matter of time before one was going to be thrown back."

"I accept the league's decision," said Walker. "Based on what was said on the ice as I was dropping my gloves, it was my understanding that I was engaged in an altercation."

What a joke...

This is commical at best. So when your club was getting chippy after the Canes handed it to them, that was ok? Come on. If your team was on the other end of this many of you would be saying "way to stick up for a teammate Scotty". I have no doubt of that.

It is unfortunate, especially because Ward was a former 'Cane and Cup winner for Carolina. But Ward wanted a go at Cullen yet Walker oblidged and then Ward went, well maybe not. But if you thought the Canes would not retaliate at some point after these last couple games, well that is just crazy.

Bruins played a fine game last night, your team deserved it hands down (um, well not you Ward, you better keep them up in the future...please). Get well Aaron.

BModR8 - Did you watch the game? What are you talking about? When Lucic got tripped by your player and fell on Ward's head and drove it into the ice? Or when Krecji was digging for a puck that was sitting behind Ward against the post and Ward flopped backwards having no idea what was happening? No Penalty cause the puck was still lose at the time. Retaliation? Learn to retaliate if thats what it takes, oh and in case you didn't notice there were 2 real fights that the Canes tried to fight in, YOU LOST BOTH! Here is some help for you
Ward - #44
Lucic - #17
Krecji - #46

Ward looked like a clown, and now has the eye to go with it. Looking forward to the hits on Walker. Unfortunately, Chara, (aka Lerch) made a poor attempt tp dive at the end of th second, and should have been penalized for it.

Ward looked like a clown, and now has the eye to go with it. Looking forward to the hits on Walker. Unfortunately, Chara, (aka Lerch) made a poor attempt tp dive at the end of th second, and should have been penalized for it.

NHL.com has the final word - just a $2,500 fine. Let's see how Walker's walking after game 6. Somebody's gonna give him the business and good!

From NHL.com - $2,500 fine, no suspension for Walker, who claims that he thought he was led to believe that he was in a fight based on what Ward said to him on the ice.

Nothing on JJ's hack of Chara's achilles...

Wait, Milan Lucic was suspended for putting a glove in someone's face, and this piece of work gets a twenty-five hundred dollar fine for a sucker punch?

I'm actually glad he won't be suspended, cos I look forward to Looch putting him six feet under. The utter lack of a consistent response from Colin Campbell has me a little confused, though.

From the Cane's player's behavior to the their coach's comments, great bulletin board material, keep it coming.
Bruins in 7.

Fage'
I can't get the phantom trip out of my mind as a lasting memory of Reich in OT last year. Don't really remember him playing D, and do you really want a 4th line winger playing D over a full time Defensmen.. moving a D up to forward is much different than a forward back to D.

Clear cheap shot by Walker. Joke he wasn't suspended. Problem is they can't retaliate until next year because of risk of penalty. Need to maintain composure unlike cheapshot canes.

You Canes fans crack me up... The Bruins have been getting chippy out there the last few games??? You've seen nothing yet... It's about time this series got a little bit physical... The Bruins COULD have gone the route of the Hurricanes and gotten really chippy and dirty at the end of Game 4, but they showed a little restraint and sportsmanship and didn't... The Hurricanes showed what they are made of last night... Utterly classless! Of course, Chara and other defensemen are gonna clear guys out of the crease after whistles, it's part of the game... Sometimes liberties get taken when that happens... And it's happened all series long on both sides... But the Bruins didn't go out looking to get dirty at the end of the games they lost... The Canes did... Ruuttu, Walker, Jokkinen, Convoy, et al showed their true colors... Hopefully, it is gonna cost them more than Game 5... But we'll just have to wait and see about that... One game at a time... But the fact that only a $2500 fine was handed out to Walker is laughable... Unbelievable... I don't know any self-respecting hockey player that punches a guy who hasn't dropped his gloves and isn't ready to go... Pathetic... You fans can make up BS about it being retribution for other grievances if it makes you feel better about the team you root for, but it is just making you look as utterly classless as the Hurricanes... So glad this series has finally gotten heated, it's about time and it plays in the Bruins' favor, big-time... Hopefully, it is just not too little, too late...

Lucic got suspended why against Montreal ? That seemed a lot less serious than does the Waker hit on Ward. It seemed much closer to the one on Chara and there wasn't even a penalty called on that. Put these three things next to each other and at least one of them doesn't make any sense.
So far my favorite stupid NHL logic I've heard about this runs like this: "Well, Ward was out in the hallway after the game playing with his kids so there's no way he could have a broken bone in his face." Fascinating.

"League disciplinarian Colin Campbell ... ruled the hit was not a 'sucker punch'." Huh? What was he watching?

Give Maurice something to really laugh about. Don't go after Walker. Target their best players -- if the circumstances allow. Of course, it's best to make sure the Canes don't get to the next round, but if they do, make sure they go minus their marquee players. Then watch Coach Paul yuk it up all the way to a well-deserved oblivion.

I believe the penalty for Walker is fair. What I'm embarrassed about is the awful dive Chara took. Can you believe it? That was the softest slash I've ever seen.

j0646 - the comment to target their best players is just the kind of comment that makes Briun fans look as bad as the team played 3 or of 5 games. Is the entire Boston fan base that far out of touch with reality???

BruinsFan_1,
Nearly anyone else on the team, and I would agree. No way Chara goes down unless it actually hurts. It may not really have been from the slash - he was on the ice almost half the game in the end (I can't find the numbers but he was probably at 16 minutes or so at that point) and skating hard the entire time. The tap probably just set his already aching muscles into a cramp.

Lucic punches Lapierre in the face with his GLOVE when LaPierre was coming after him and gets 1 game. Walker drops the gloves and punches Ward straight in the face while he's just standing there and gets no supsension...way to be consistent NHL. What a bunch of clowns

DrCC,
Cramp? Not much of a doctor are ya? It may have stung him, but he's been hit by 100 mph pucks that leave him standing. He was trying to draw a penalty, simple as that. Sure you don't see Chara dive much (too far down) but that was some pretty obvious acting. I agree with the refs being inconsistent, hopelfully we'll see an evenly called game Tuesday. And for all those Bruins fans that want someone to fight walker: be careful what you wish for, the dude is a mean MFer. Youtube it ya massholes! I also love the way bruins fans talk like they were on the ice. Great stuff! good Laughs.

Sucker punch means you did not see it coming, for all of those reading this, Ward saw it coming.

He's been hit by 100 mph pucks on the front of his legs, or thighs, where there is padding (some of it natural).
I've had the misfortune of having both my calves cramp while in air during a jump. My reaction was about the same as his.
And no, my degree isn't medical.

B's are going to play with purpose tomorrow night, just like last night, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the Canes cheap shot strategy blows up in their faces. Can't wait to see the look on Maurice's smug puss when we force Game 7 in Boston.

BigBruinFan. If Walker's shot wasn't as cheap as they come, I don't know what was. If the NHL can't apply consistent oversight to this nonsense, then it's up to the players to exact the price for bringing down their own best. It doesn't matter which team I support. I'd prefer to see fighting banned, but it's not, and since it's not, retribution is the only means of self-protection. Retribution needs to be proportional if it is to be effective. Walker is a nobody. Ward needs a better trade than that.

What a Joke! What kind of message does this send? NHL = a broken brand forever!

that was NOT a sucker punch. All during the series ward and chara have been throwing cheap shots that were never called.... to me this looks like pay back probably not the best way to go about it but that 'sucker' punch was well deserved

that was NOT a sucker punch. All during the series ward and chara have been throwing cheap shots that were never called.... to me this looks like pay back probably not the best way to go about it but that 'sucker' punch was well deserved

UNC, stick to b-ball and tobacco growing. you know little about hockey if you can't see the difference between physical play when the puck is live, and a punch after the whistle on someone who was plain and simple just not willing or ready to throw down. Ward was taken off guard and I wish he had at least gotten his hands up. That being said, he'll be in there unless his face is in 3 pieces. I hope Looch keeps it clean long enough for the B's to build a nice lead. Then by all means, goon it up on this guy. Is McSorley available for a shift or two?

That absolutely is a sucker punch. Not that I would expect some twit from Carolina to know much about hockey. I agree with the other guy, stick to hoops.

Walker should have been suspended. It was a cheap and dangerous shot to Ward and there was no need for it at the end of the game...was Walker trying to inspire his time with less then 3 minutes to go and down 4 goals? By not suspending Walker the league is sending the wrong message. The Canes are going after the Bruins top defensive players to injure, hoping they miss games. How far will this go? Should a Bruin sucker punch Staal to remove him from the series? Should someone on the Capitols sucker punch Crosby? Someone from the Pens sucker punch Ovechkin? The answer is no, that is not how the game is played. Walker should have been severely disciplined by the league for his foolishness...

It was a sucker punch and it looks like Aaron Ward was the sucker.
Don't you have any decent medical care in the Boston area? It is 36 hours later and they still can't say if he has a broken orbital bone. Do they have X-ray or a CT scanners in Boston?

Whether or not it was a sucker punch is moot. The rule is that an instigator penalty in the last five minutes is an AUTOMATIC suspension of one game. There is no subjectivity in the rule, and that's what has me upset. Don't suspend Walker for the punch. Suspend him for the instigator. It's in the NHL rule book!

Calling Walker "classless", thereby insinuating Ward is "classy" is a joke. I'm not saying Walker is Mother Teresa. I'm saying Ward was a slow, underskilled, scrappy, instigator-type player for the Hurricanes and he is the same player for the Bruins. Ward asked a Canes skill player who has fought maybe once in his career if he wanted to fight. Walker stepped in to protect his teammate. Those roles are present in every hockey club.