Dein erstes Forum » He refused to comment when asked if surge

Hours before the Stanley Cup finals began, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman proudly proclaimed that concussions are down across the league and there are numbers to back him up. That does not mean the league has figured out how to prevent head injuries among its players. Or that the numbers tell the whole story. According to data from STATS provided to The Associated Press, there were 53 concussions during the regular season, a sharp decline from the 78 reported during the leagues last full season two years ago. But even Bettman said there is only so much the league can do about a player hiding a head injury to stay on the ice. "Obviously, its difficult for us to get into a players head, no pun intended, with this concussion discussion," he said. "But if a player is going to not follow the protocol, not say exactly what hes feeling, thats pretty difficult to address." Dr. Jeff Kutcher, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based neurologist who works with NHL players believed to have concussions, wasnt sure the lower numbers indicated a dramatic change. "Im not surprised that the numbers are down, but I wouldnt read too much into those numbers," Kutcher said. The NHLs concussion protocol, like other leagues, requires players to get a team doctors OK before they can return to play. They are taken to a quiet place for evaluation, questions and tests of their memory, balance and general awareness. Players, though, seem to be able to skate around the protocol. Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman James Wisniewski said he avoided return-to-play protocol after he went head first into the boards during the playoffs. He wanted to keep playing. The Montreal Canadiens were criticized for letting forward Dale Weise return to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals after a blindside hit sent him to the dressing room. General manager Marc Bergevin insisted the team did not know Weise had a concussion until the next day and that the leagues protocol was followed. "Its flawed, but Im not a doctor," Bergevin said. "We all worry about our players, but we can only go by what were given." Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan, who was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs to be their president two months ago after he was the NHLs chief disciplinarian, said it is good for the game that concussions are part of the conversation. "When there are situations like weve had in the playoffs, whether it is a hit to the head or mis-reporting, it gets put in the spotlight and it should," Shanahan said. "That is part of the continuing change of culture, and its going to be an ongoing process. I dont think there ever will be a perfect system because players are always going to want to play." The NHL Players Association says it has taken steps to educate its players about the dangers of concussions, including bringing doctors to each team before the season for discussions. "The players understand the seriousness of concussions, and along with our consulting doctors we continue to discuss with them the importance of early diagnosis, treatment and proper recovery," NHLPA executive director Don Fehr said. Detroit Red Wings forward Drew Miller said players choose to keep playing with head injuries for at least a few reasons. "Guys downplay the symptoms or dont report them because of job security and they dont want to lose their spot," Miller said. "And, guys want to keep playing because they want help their team. In the back of our minds, too, you dont want other teams to know you have a head injury." Retired players Dave Christian, Reed Larson and William Bennett filed a class-action suit nearly two months ago in federal court that alleged the league has promoted fighting and downplayed the risk of head injuries that come from it. They joined another group of former NHL players in the fight for compensation for head injuries they blame on a game that promotes hard-hitting action. Current players seem to be adapting to the NHLs emphasis on safer play: Physical penalties -- such as illegal checks to the head, checks from behind and elbowing -- have dropped in each of the last six regular seasons. An average of 1.03 physical penalties were called per game during the 2013-14 season, according to STATS, down from 1.14, 1.16, 1.25, 1.36 and 1.39 the previous five years. Suspensions have generally held steady at around 35 per season the past few years, and players are sometimes forced to sit even if no penalty is called. Montreals Brandon Prust wasnt penalized for a hit that broke the jaw of New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan during the Eastern Conference finals, but he was suspended for two games by the league. Stepan sat out one game after going through a series of tests. "The protocol helps make sure that the player is OK and that he is not playing with something that he shouldnt be," he said. "I think its a good step in the right direction." Ultimately, though, players have to protect themselves and each other. "It comes down to the guys on the ice respecting each other and playing it as safe as possible," Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp said. "You see some of the big hits this year, inevitably youre going to catch a piece of the head and cause a problem, but the leagues done well with suspensions and penalties and the players have done a good job as far as the respect factor." Nike Air Force 1 Australia Cheap . Jagr had a goal and two assists, Andy Greene scored 43 seconds into overtime and Marek Zidlicky had two goals as the Devils rallied past the Washington Capitals 5-4 Saturday night. Cheap Nike Air Force 1 Australia . He is nigh unstoppable against the leagues worst. The 31-year-old dangerman set up two goals and scored two himself as Toronto FC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the slumping Houston Dynamo 4-2 on Saturday night. http://www.cheapnikeairforce1australia.com/ . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. Wholesale Air Force One . De La Rosa pitched six strong innings to win his sixth consecutive decision, Todd Helton homered and the Colorado Rockies snapped the Los Angeles Dodgers six-game winning streak with a 7-5 victory on Wednesday night. Nike Air Force 1 Clearance Australia . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning.PHILADELPHIA - Steve Mason grabbed his right knee in pain in his last start and headed straight for the exit.Weeks later in relief, Mason stood tall in net for the Flyers.Wayne Simmonds scored in regulation and got the winning goal in a shootout to lift the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night.After the Flyers missed on their first two shootout attempts, Simmonds beat Mike Smith for the winner.The Flyers earned their second shootout win of the season and are now 2-5 in shootouts this year. Theyve won their last two after losing 10 straight.Mason gave the Flyers a shot to win with a sensational relief effort for the Flyers. He made 22 saves over the final 2 1/2 periods in his first game since Jan. 10 to help them rally from a 2-0 deficit.For a goaltender, timing is everything out there, Mason said.He saved the Flyers at the perfect time. Mason said he told coach Craig Berube in the morning he was healthy enough to back up Emery.I think he probably wasnt as sharp as he would like to be, but he competed hard and ended up winning the game, Berube said.Connor Murphy, Martin Erat and Tobias Rieder scored for the Coyotes.R.J. Umberger and Michael Del Zotto also scored for the Flyers.The Flyers and Coyotes were tied 3-all through two periods in a matchup of two of the worst teams in the NHL.Each team took a spin giving up leads just like bad teams do.For the Coyotes, it was blowing a 2-0 lead after they chased Ray Emery.For the Flyers, it was allowing a tying goal with just 37 seconds left in the second period instead of heading into intermission with momentum.Thats a big, big goal late in the second period, especially when weve given up a couple and let them right back into the game, Arizona coach Dave Tippett said. I thought we played solid in the third, and too bad we couldnt get the extra point in the shootout.Emery was benched only 5:50 into the game after Murphy and Erat bbeat him for two fast goals.dddddddddddd Murphy scored his third goal of the season on a shot from the slot that popped over Emerys shoulder. Erat knocked in a rebound for his seventh, and scored Arizonas second goal on only four shots.Its always nice when you come on the road a get a two goal lead, Erat said. You have to know and learn how to play with it.Emery took a drink from the water bottle and turned around to find Mason on the ice and ready in relief. Mason, their No. 1 starter, hadnt played since suffering what the Flyers called a lower-body injury Jan. 10 against Boston.He returned to a rousing ovation — and was soon in position for a win.Mason said it was a shock he was asked to take over so early in the game. Mason, who battled the flu over the weekend, hadnt faced many shots during his layoff and had wondered if the knee injury could become worse than expected. He refused to comment when asked if surgery was on the table.The body felt fine, it was just a matter of getting timing back in the game, Mason said.Simmonds cut it to 2-1 with his 17th late in the first. Umberger tied it 2-all on his ninth when he flipped the puck over Smiths shoulder in the second.I just wanted to get it on net and was able to find that top corner, Umberger said.Del Zotto gave the Flyers the lead for the first time when his fourth goal pinged — the sound could be heard high above the upper deck — off the crossbar and past a stunned Smith.The Flyers lead lasted all of 23 seconds. Rieder evened the score 3-3 when he slipped one past Mason with just 37.1 seconds left in the period.They cant be scoring goals at that time, Mason said.No worries. Mason shut them down from there.NOTES: Murphys father, Gord, is an assistant with the Flyers. ... Flyers F Petr Straka, 6-foot, 195 pounds, was recalled from the AHL and made his NHL debut. He had 20 goals for 44 points in 99 career games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. ' ' '