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ESPN under fire for absurd 'old cut' comment about Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin
TL;DR
ESPN faces backlash for suggesting Rasmus Dahlin might reopen an 'old cut' to draw a penalty. The comment sparked outrage among Buffalo Sabres fans.
Key points
- ESPN criticized for comment on Rasmus Dahlin
- Dahlin was high-sticked during a game
- Comment suggested reopening an old cut to draw a penalty
Buffalo SabresRasmus Dahlin
ESPN under fire for absurd 'old cut' comment about Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Yes, in a very technical sense, there would be an advantage if after an NHL player drew a penalty, he could make sure there was blood, because it raises the severity of the in-game punishment.
But what are the odds? It's a question Buffalo Sabres fans are asking after Rasmus Dahlin was suggested to be trying to re-open an "old cut" on Tuesday night in Montreal.
The Sabres captain had taken a high stick, and the penalty was called. If there was blood, it'd be elevated to a double minor.
The reality is that the hit left Dahlin bleeding, clearly.
Still, ESPN's Sean McDonough made what was probably a joke but still a very odd comment about the idea of taking advantage of a past wound:
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In a game where the Sabres kept giving away penalties, this was a time the whistle worked in their favor.
And believe it or not, Dahlin didn't have to fake anything. Taking a hockey stick to the face can cause some temporary problems.
The Sabres went on to score on that power play when Tage Thompson's dump-in around the boards took a crazy deflection and ended up in the back of the net.
For what it's worth, it came in the first segment of the penalty. Even if Dahlin hadn't been bleeding, the Sabres would've scored on the power play.
More NHL news:
Q&A
What did ESPN say about Rasmus Dahlin's injury?
ESPN suggested that Rasmus Dahlin might be trying to reopen an 'old cut' to draw a penalty after he was high-sticked during a game.
Why are Buffalo Sabres fans upset with ESPN's comment?
Buffalo Sabres fans are upset because they find the suggestion that Dahlin would intentionally reopen a wound to be absurd and disrespectful.
What are the implications of drawing blood in an NHL game?
In the NHL, if a player draws blood from a penalty, the severity of the penalty can be elevated to a double minor, which can significantly impact the game.
