Chris Neil Hits Johnny Boychuk: Senators Winger Nails Bruins Defenseman (VIDEO)

I have a feeling that Johnny Boychuk and the Boston Bruins aren't going to forget Chris Neil's crushing (yet clean) body check any time soon. Unless, of course, Boychuk can't remember it at all. As Boychuk tried to clear the puck out of the Boston zone early in the third period of Saturday's game, the Senators' winger charged right at him and delivered a hit so hard that it sent both players to the ice.

The replay showed that the Boston defenseman was looking down at the puck when Neil lowered his shoulder right into his chest. Bruins teammate Zdeno Chara immediately skated over to the scene and seemed ready to fight Neil before he realized that both players were shaken up from the collision.

Boychuk did not return to the game. Chara eventually fought Neil later in the period and Boston went on to win, 5-3.

On Sunday, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli told CSNNE.com that Boychuk was still "a little foggy" a day after the hit and there will be a full update on Monday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE

Comments

[ruffdeezy]

02:55 AM on 03/02/2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npn0dyhSyr0

[rich3324]

09:48 PM on 02/29/2012

Keep your head up.

[ruffdeezy]

12:17 PM on 02/29/2012

Definitely clean.

[sunshine2446]

10:19 AM on 02/29/2012

It was a hard, clean hit. No reason to get so upset about.

[Cariboofly]

10:13 AM on 02/28/2012

I can't seem to get upset over a player on the dirtiest team in the league getting decked by a clean hit, while he had his head down.

[HockeyGirl74]

12:04 PM on 02/28/2012

LOL dirtiest team in the league. You are cute. THIS story is about a hit, which was a good, clean hit. So who is upset???

[BILLOC88]

12:18 PM on 02/29/2012

It's funny seeing Chris Neil imediately after the hit...he falls backward to the ice (basically lost his balance), then when he sees Chara coming over, he drops his head like a turtle pulling into his shell (like a Pansy in other words), and then he proceeds to fake like he is hurt so he won't have to deal with any of the Bruins players ready to fight him. What a coward!

[The Commish]

09:21 AM on 02/28/2012

What's with all the bellyaching? It was a clean hit. Hits like this have been occuring since hockey's inception, yet people (especially those with little to no hockey knowledge) start crying each and every time this happens.

[HockeyGirl74]

12:07 PM on 02/28/2012

I agree this is a clean hit. I also agree that Shanny has been beyond inconsistent. What's good for one player, should be good for the next....even if it is a Bruin. (more talking about the hit on Corvo) I just want it to be fair when he suspends. There should be NOTHING for this hit. It's a good hockey hit. Period.

[The Commish]

12:35 PM on 02/28/2012

I agree completely. Shanahan has been horrible overall. My complaint with most of the "fans" on this site seem to have no idea what they are talking about.

[boscobear]

08:41 AM on 02/28/2012

The only reason this was done was to try and intimidate the other team. When you have no talent, I guess the only thing left to to do is try and injure someone on the opposing team.

[ensley92]

11:19 AM on 02/29/2012

You don't watch much hockey, do you?

[RecoveryRoad]

10:20 PM on 02/27/2012

was it legal? yes, of course. was it needed? no, Neil was only hoping to bury the guy, not make a hockey play. And that's the bottom line, there are too many players on the ice who are only out there to intimidate or separate the player from his helmet. Let's face it, this could happen a lot more often since the players are almost always looking down at the puck for a second or two ... luckily most players aren't interested in destroying other players, but only to play the game. my 2 cents

[RoboSmash11]

09:48 PM on 02/27/2012

Why is it that every time somebody throws a hard, clean check on a Bruin player they all have to go try and jump the hitter?

[chiodo08]

01:42 PM on 02/27/2012

cue up the boston whiners.....1...2....3

[HockeyGirl74]

03:16 PM on 02/27/2012

Come on now, not all are "whiners"...we just get sick of the double standard this year. I have no problem with this hit. I DO have a problem with the Turris hit on Corvo. (and others this year....)

And I DO believe that if either hit was by a Bruin, especially like Lucic, they would have been suspended. That is just my opinion. =)

[paddles]

08:51 PM on 02/27/2012

Cue up the Tampa Bay bandwagon fan,,,,,3,,,2,,,1,,,,Oh look he's already here. Enjoying that great season-oops-forgot you're probably not even watching. Jealousy is SOOOOOO unbecoming.

[joethemason]

09:35 AM on 02/27/2012

Of course it was clean, according to the NHL: it's clean because it's a hit on a Bruins player. Yes, I'm a Bruins homer, but this is getting ridiculous. Nathan Horton out indefinitely because of a dirty hit that Brendan Shanahan said was not dirty. This hit: dirty. The hit on Corvo later in the game when the Ottawa player left his skates and hit Corvo in the head: not considered dirty by Shanahan. Brendan Shanahan = BS. NHL officiating is about to overtake NBA officiating as the worst in professional sports.

[paddles]

09:38 AM on 02/27/2012

Obviously they are trying their hardest to make sure that the Bruins don't repeat. Can't stop them any other way. I'm sure they want a Canadian team (Canucks) to win it since it was "stolen" from them by the "dirty" Bruins last year.

[chiodo08]

01:44 PM on 02/27/2012

come on paddles...the B's are a hart hitting bunch..it behooves any team that plays them to get off first or be creamed

[kahunacook]

01:12 PM on 02/27/2012

Okay, I'm a Wings fan and have no bias in this. (If I do it would go Boston's way just because I like Thomas.) Anyway, please explain to me why you feel this hit was dirty? There was no head contact and his elbow never came up. He didn't board him and didn't leave his feet until after the hit. Boychuk still had the puck. The only thing that would be remotely close is charging, however both players were moving towards each other and Neil had to skate around another Bruin. It appears like a clean hard check.

[HockeyGirl74]

03:18 PM on 02/27/2012

I am a die hard Bruins fan, and i agree. To me, this was a very hard check, but clean.
Again, my issue is the OTHER hit in the game on Corvo.

[NatTurner1]

08:21 AM on 02/27/2012

Thugs!

[kahunacook]

01:14 PM on 02/27/2012

I assume you're referring to the referenced fight later and not this hit Nat? After all, the hit is legal and within the rules. Just like tackling in football.

[NatTurner1]

01:33 PM on 02/27/2012

If that makes you feel better.

[chiodo08]

03:24 PM on 02/27/2012

at least they back up their "thuggery" unlike the NBA wanna be gangsters...stick to what you know defending the likes of Mayweather and Vick....2 stalwarts of humanity

[NatTurner1]

03:48 PM on 02/27/2012

LOL! Hilarious. So you are defending their thuggish ways and comparing it to elbows thrown in the NBA? So typical! Sanctioned fisticuffs vs. elbows! Hilarious and typical!

[paddles]

08:01 AM on 02/27/2012

No suspension-if a Bruin had done this they would be heavily fined and suspended for at least 5 games. Thanks ShanaHAM.

[chiodo08]

01:49 PM on 02/27/2012

come on dude what happened to Chara last year?....or that p//nk that threw water on fans and took cheap shots during the playoffs...NO team via Colen Campbell got away with more last year because his boy was on the team...so bad he got replaced...seriously please don't be a cliche' Boston fan...you won it all...wave this off and enjoy your Stanley weight

[paddles]

01:55 PM on 02/27/2012

And how many players from other teams have done the same, if not WORSE than a Bruin and gotten away with a 2 minute penalty. Give me a break-it needs to be consistent. By the way-that was LAST YEAR-get over it Lightning fan.

[paddles]

01:57 PM on 02/27/2012

More lies-enjoy not making the playoffs this year Tampa Bay Bandwagon Fan. And why do you assume that I am a "dude" . Kind of sexist of you-women watch and love sports too you know.

[HockeyGirl74]

03:29 PM on 02/27/2012

As usual, I agree with you my friend. It is getting ridiculous, and Shanny is a JOKE. NO consistency at all. I am so sick of it. Did you see the hit on Corvo???

[paddles]

03:43 PM on 02/27/2012

Of course-it's getting to be a joke. I loved this quote from Shameaham-"After reviewing the video extensively as we heard Turris’ explanation of how the play developed, we concluded that the head was not targeted intentionally or even recklessly and that the circumstances surrounding the hit contributed significantly to the amount of head contact that resulted" Of course a Bruin is never believed or given this benefit of a doubt.

[RoboSmash11]

09:44 PM on 02/27/2012

Boston has already benefited from said inconsistency- Lucic didn't get a suspension for running over Miller- Tootoo gets two games for a lesser, more incidental hit on Miller a few weeks later.