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Former NHL Player Defends Marchand Following a Controversial Play

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Austin Sabourin
December 10, 2023  (10:20)
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Controversy surrounded a recent incident in the Buffalo Sabres versus Boston Bruins game, where Brad Marchand's hit on Henri Jokiharju sparked calls for a harsh penalty or suspension. However, former NHL defenseman Craig Rivet offers a different perspective.

Despite widespread online criticism of Marchand, Rivet challenges the notion of a dirty hit. In a surprising twist, Rivet contends that the fault lies with Jokiharju, claiming the defenseman deliberately avoided contact upon anticipating Marchand's hit.

"Dirty?? Really? Go watch this in slow motion. Watch Jokiharju!! He sees the hit coming from Marchand and totally chickens out of contact. My god 👎," expressed Rivet in defense of Marchand.

Rivet's opinion carries weight, given his former affiliation with the Buffalo Sabres as a player and his involvement in Sabres-focused radio shows and podcasts post-retirement.

Unsurprisingly, Rivet's perspective is met with dissent, as not everyone aligns with his take on the contentious play.

The incident adds another layer of debate to an already contentious matchup, with varying opinions circulating about the nature of the hit and the responsibilities of the players involved.

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Do you think this was a dirty hit?

Yes21623.3 %
No71176.7 %
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