Goal Celebrations and Cheap Shots

So apparently some around the NHL and it's fan base are upset over the way Alexander Ovechkin celebrates his goals. Especially his 50th goal celebration for the 2009 season (if you haven't seen it go check it out on YouTube). Quite frankly I'm fed up with all the complaints about basically nothing in the league and this fits under the category of a big nothing in my book. This is hockey people. The players are basically responsible to keep each other in check. If the players don't like these kind of actions then they should make it known the traditional way... on the ice. I'm not saying that someone should do a cheap shot at Ovechkin since I personally enjoy his entertaining style of play, but it may be worth a roughing penalty if you think he's being unprofessional in his celebrations. Once he starts up with one of his 50+ celebrations a season go up to him and confront him. What does "confront him" mean? Get in his face, shove him down to the ice, give him a love tap across the shin pads, etc, etc. Obviously you don't wanna Hollweg or Downie the guy by hitting him from behind or with a high elbow since that is just ridiculous, but express your feelings none the less on the ice, not in the media. If the players started to use the media as an outlet we'd be left with a league full of Sean Avery's or even worse, it would turn into the NFL.

Speaking of cheap shots... this seems to be the issue the league is not treating in the right way. Now I know we all know the basic arguments in this issue and mine is one of the more popular ones (amongst fans and former players anyway). Everyone has seen the hits from behind, the high elbows, and the eye gouging at this point in time and most people would agree they're all a bit on the unsavory side. My solution to this is simple... get rid of the fight instigator penalties. It's plain and simple that even with the two referee system that the officials can't catch every single action on the ice, but the players can. The reason why we're having this spree of dirty plays is the fact that the guys just can't go out there anymore and take care of the problem players without getting an extra two minutes, a misconduct of sorts, and most likely a suspension and fine from the powers that be in Toronto. I know what some of you are thinking... "fighting is barbaric and it's not good for the children. Would somebody please think about the children!!!" and to you I say stick a puck in it and go to some Disney on Ice. More on the fighting issue at a later date. Well til next time I hate this place and I hate all of you. So step up or step off.