KO OK’ed by coach?

Here’s a headline for ya:

Kostopoulos KO on Kimmo OK’ed by coach…

Carbonneau says Timonen deserved it.

What happened at the end of Game 2 could be the start of something ugly between the Flyers and Canadiens.

Tom Kostopoulos’ left hook on Kimmo Timonen has made an already fiesty series that much more intense. We’ll probably never know exactly what he said, but obviously the Montreal forward didn’t like the words which were coming out of his mouth. The question is should the shot be such a big deal??

Now, I’m a Bruins fan so this isn’t easy for me to say, but I have no issue with what took place. It wasn’t a slash, cross-check, or even high stick… some will argue it was a sucker punch, but in my opinion it wasn’t. You can visibly see Timonen mouthing off right before Kostopoulos popped him in the mouth. Now, if he didn’t see it coming and it was from behind, then that’s a different story.

As for Guy Carbonneau’s comment of saying “I think he deserved it,” was that wrong? Before you make your decision remember these are intense athletes/coaches who are being interviewed moments after the game when the blood is still boiling. Flyers coach John Stevens reacted by calling the punch “cowardly,” so now the bench bosses are getting heated… nice.

Again, Guy has a point, why mouth off after scoring a goal? Perhaps Kimmo deserved an unsportsmanlike penalty for his actions. Then again there’s no possible way the officials could have missed a call, right?… No comment.

Regardless of who was right or wrong, no doubt the incident will step things up a notch in the physical department. The now best-of-five series could go the distance like a good ol’ fashion heavyweight bout. With the emotions ready to boil over as the scene shifts to Philly, the key word the rest of the way could be discipline; something Kimmo didn’t show after the goal.

Lates,

Porty