Hope Spezza’s ok.  Just one of those unfortunate happenings.  Letang made a bad decision to board Spezza, but I don’t think it was a dirty play.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 12/27/10 at 11:58 AM ET

Make sure you see Spezza turn his back before Letang hits him….

It’s too bad he was injured, nothing dirty at all….

Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/27/10 at 12:07 PM ET

Spezza initiated the contact. You can see him move into Letang right before he goes down. Maybe Letang would have only pushed him into the boards (both standing up). Unfortunate, but I think Spezza made it worse.

Posted by pensfan29 on 12/27/10 at 12:11 PM ET

Spezza didn’t turn his back right before Letang hit him, he had his back to him the whole time, that’s what makes it a bad decision on Letang’s part.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 12/27/10 at 12:13 PM ET

Letang’s comments:

“I saw him going to the puck and he kind of turned his back so I didn’t want to hit him, so I put my two hands around him,” Letang said. “I think he tripped before and it kind of looked bad on the play.”

Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/27/10 at 12:14 PM ET

All well and good that Letang remembers trying to hug Spezza so he doesn’t trip, but the replay shows a push.

This is not the victim’s fault.

Partially, sure, but mostly not.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 12/27/10 at 12:40 PM ET

He put his hands around him by shoving him in the back. Ok.

It’s a definite penalty and a boarding, but Spezza turning at the last moment didn’t help. Bad timing and worse luck.

Posted by awould on 12/27/10 at 02:22 PM ET

Spezza initiated the contact…

Agreed.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 12/27/10 at 05:05 PM ET