Mike Loftus On The Adam Jones Show: Thornton Looking At Double-Digit Suspension
BOSTON (CBS) - Mike Loftus of The Patriot Ledger joined Monday night's The Adam Jones Show on 98.5 The Sports Hub to discuss Shawn Thorton's pending suspension.
Like many, Loftus was surprised at Thornton's actions on Saturday night. Though his main role is Boston's enforcer, Thornton takes pride in playing that position the right way, and his actions against Pittsburgh's Bruce Orpik were very uncharacteristic.
"The first thing is just totally, totally out of character," said Loftus. "Shawn has had 130 fights in the NHL and I don't think there was ever a time when he did an unfair thing on the ice. You always know what to expect with Thornton. That's still my initial reaction that hasn't changed that much. Second, it was just a terrible, terrible thing he did."
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Thornton will have an in-person hearing with Brendan Shannahan later this week, and Loftus is expecting a lengthy suspension.
"I think Shawn is looking at double digits," he said. "I don't think it's going to be time-served or five games, regardless that he's never been suspended before and he has always done this so, so honorably. I won't be surprised if it's 10 (games), maybe a little more."
Thornton isn't the only Bruin that will be missing from action for the near future. Boston lost Loui Eriksson to another concussion on Saturday, and Chris Kelly is sidelined for 4-6 weeks with a broken ankle. On defense, Adam McQuaid is on the IR and both Johnny Boychuk and Kevan Miller are also banged up.
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"There was a point Sunday night when the Bruins were playing without half of their defensmen and a quarter of their top 12 forwards, yet they won for the second night in a row," noted Loftus. "It's going to be difficult (on the current road trip), no doubt. It looks like Boychuk might be able to play (Tuesday in Calgary), which would be a help, but I think they're really going to have to count on their top couple of lines when it comes to generating offense."
