Vokoun taken out by teammate

Maybe it's because I'm in a bad mood, grumpy that I didn't get to eat dinner, but I have to rant a bit so bare with me.

I know that anyone that actually reads this blog might not be interested in hockey, sorry!

Here is a link to an article regarding Keith Ballard taking out his own goalie, Tomas Vokoun, because in anger he swung his stick at the goal and whacked Vokoun in the head, after Ilya Kovalchuk schooled Richards and scored a goal.

Vokoun left the game on a stretcher and had to get stitches, fortunately nothing worse. I can only imagine how much it's going to hurt when he puts that goalie mask back on.

Now, yes I do have a soft spot for Thomas Vokoun because he was my #1 goalie on my fantasy hockey team last year and yes I do have a soft spot for goalies in general because that is my favorite position in hockey (yes that is true, despite Mike Green being a defensemen, I still love the goalies)!

The article informs us that the Florida Panthers nor the NHL will penalize Ballard for his actions. OK, I was not at the game, and I have only seen the replays that I can find online or that have been on every sports channel. The article indicates that Ballard was "visibly" upset, I didn't see that in any of the footage. But beside that what the was he thinking???? The net belongs to the goalie, if they get angry and want to crack their stick on the side of the goal then great, because obviously they won't be in goal but you make that decision when your goalie is in goal. Where did you think he went??

OK, Ballard is upset and I'm sure regrets his actions and would love to roll back time, but he unleashed uncalled for fury. Yes I said that about a hockey player.

The number of injuries for goalies has increased significantly over the past couple of years and yet referees continue to let players intentionally take out goalies with no penalties but if a goalie retaliates they get a penalty.

My theory is that the little blue space in between those pipes belongs to the goalie and if you enter that realm then good luck to you because you are now at the mercy of some of the most amazing goalies!

Now that doesn't resolve this current situation, I do think that Ballard should be penalized, I agree he didn't mean to do it but he did deliberately swing that stick at the goal. Why is that any different than someone that intentionally head hunts or a player that intentionally leaves his skates to take someone out?

Just my thoughts, thus the title of this blog "Talking to Myself."

Get well soon Tomas Vokoun! and no I'm not a Florida Panthers fan, just a hockey / goalie fan :>)