Green Light For The Head Hunters.

We can almost smell the playoffs. And what does this time of the year means? In the NHL, it usually means less penalties from the officials and tiyn suspensions from the league for dangerous -and life threatning- assaults.

The course of the events in the NHL since the end of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics are just a sample of what's brewing for the next few weeks.

As if it wasn't enough, simply during the last few hours, we saw a very dangerous check in the back at full speed from Washington Capitals' Alexander Ovechkin delivered to Brian Campbell of the Chicago Blackhawks. That potential serious injury was sanctionned for only two games by the league, mainly because Ovechkin did not decapitate his target in the process.

And because Ovechkin is a fifty goal scorer, the NHL chooses the tickets and ratings to their product's own life and well being.

During those same last few hours, we also saw a MMA-type leg hold on Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby. There should be a minor suspension awarded by the league -of course- in this case.

With the type of hits, and with the amount of games of penalty awarded by the NHL to the aggressors, the temptation is huge for the head hunters. There is no serious sanction until next season.

The green light is on.

(Picture: Marc Savard.)