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What Sens fan didn't love the 8-2 spanking of the Leafs last night?

Unfortunately for myself and maybe some others out there, I'm left with a bitter taste in my mouth.

With less than 5 minutes left and Ottawa already up 7-2, the unwritten rule about "sending a message" when you're getting your a** kicked came into full effect when the Leafs' Wade Belak found it appropriate to spear Chris Neil in the groin. Belak, too much of a coward to just drop the gloves and risk a suspension and fine, thought using his stick as a weapon was the way to go. Weird how an action whose sole intent is to injure doesn't have more dire consequences for the offender in question. Which leads me to my next point.

Toronto D Carlo Colaiacovo, taking a lead from Belak no doubt, decided he was going to take matters into his own hands too. Although completely unprovoked, Colaiacovo decided Ottawa's #1 centre, Jason Spezza, deserved some pain, and Spezza got speared in the gut and collapsed to the ice. A penalty was forthcoming (although the referee called it slashing) but obviously very upset that such liberties were taken with him, Spezza went after Colaiacovo and got an instigator and fighting major. Because there was less than five minutes remaining in the game, there's a good chance Spezza will face a one game suspension, and his coach Bryan Murray will face a fine.

I hope the league takes a good hard look at what happened and realizes this was an incident Jason did not want to get involved with in the first place. He was not on the ice looking to go after anyone. Colaiacovo clearly tried to hurt Spezza, period. When something like that happens to you, you are going to get upset.

If they're going to suspend Spezza then Mr. Colaiacovo, at the very least, should face the same fate. If justice is served, the league will realize Spezza was at the wrong end of goon tactics by an outmatched and outplayed hockey club and should let Spezza continuing playing.

More reason why the Toronto Maple Leafs can GET BENT.

UPDATE - December 19/05: The league has ruled that Spezza will NOT get suspended, as they reviewed the incident and believed the spear was the instigator for the fight. Justice has been served!