Nick Kypreos

Nick Kypreos is a Stanley Cup champion and Hockeycentral analyst

CAUGHT IN THE ACT: Keith Ballard's depth perception let him down on Monday night.

I had to look a dozen times before I could fully digest what Florida Panthers defenceman Keith Ballard did to his own goalie, Tomas Vokoun, in Monday's night's game in Atlanta.

A goal by the Thrashers' Ilya Kovalchuk just before the mid-point of the first period upset Ballard enough for him to try to break his stick on his own net, and in the process nearly decapitate his No. 1 goalie.

What could possibly have pissed him off so much? A 1-1 score with 51 minutes to go shouldn't have led to his reaction and, truth be told, nothing should have ever solicit this type of reaction.

Regardless of the injury, Ballard's smashing of his stick across the post was a bush-league move. He broke a cardinal sin in pro hockey: Never show that type of negative emotion on the ice.

Breaking a stick on a cross bar or post is a no-no among true team leaders. It reveals emotional weakness (it's also considered as much a "show move" as wind-milling an opposition's bench after a game-winning goal).

Ask yourself this question: Why do it? What does it accomplish?

First of all, it leaves everyone in the building questioning your frustration. Are you showing up your goalie for letting it in? Are you sending a stern message to your opponent? Are you mad at yourself for allowing a star player to get in behind you? Maybe you're ticked at the official for a previous missed call? Perhaps you're a sending a message to your coach for missing a line matchup? Which is it?

You see, it leaves too many people questioning your motive for doing it in the first place. This wasn't like it was the 10th goal given up by your team late in the game and you feel like salt is being rubbed in an open wound. And even if that was the case, it still would be unacceptable for him to do what he did.

Because hitting one's own goalie is so outside the norm, it also begged the question within our own studio: should Ballard be suspended by the league?

I'm not kidding. In our studio, someone asked: Why should it matter who Ballard hit if he's reckless with his own stick? Even our Sportsnet Connected poll asked, "Should Ballard be suspended?" (Poll results are running around 50-50.)

You're nuts if you think it will come to that.

Can you imagine the NHL giving Ballard five games for knocking out his own goalie? What's next, Leafs coach Ron Wilson being fined $10,000 for using vulgar language on his own team?

Let's get one thing straight: Ballard will not get suspended. And why? Because the league already knows how Keith Ballard felt sick to stomach watching his own teammate get carted off on a stretcher because of his dumb decision. The league also know he's about to be killed countless sports news networks across North America as the replay is shown over and over again. How embarrassing is that?

No suspension by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell will hurt Ballard in the way those repeated replays will hurt him over and over again for the rest of his career.

That's punishment enough.