I'm Baaaaaaaaack! And Talking NHL Playoff Suspensions

So, today, my sports journalism class had our first minor group function together, meeting at 1:30 at the Isenberg School of Management to have a private talk with sports journalist Kevin Blackistone, probably more known by everyone for his frequent appearances on ESPN's "Around the Horn."  One thing that he always tells his students is to start a blog, and it got me thinking, "well, since I already have one, I should probably start back up with it." So, I'm BAAAAAAAACK!
My first post in my first attempt at a comeback will have to deal with the immense amounts of NHL suspensions being handed out by former NHL star and current NHL head of disciplinary Brendan Shanahan.  Today marks one week since the 2012 NHL Playoffs began and already there have been more suspensions handed out than the Boston Bruins have goals (that's at least six).  The playoffs are a time when you would expect to see great play from star players, but this year, it has been more of a blood-bath on the ice than finesse and skill.  Don't get me wrong, there has been plenty of fantastic play, but the suspensions handed out by "Shanny" have overshadowed the results of the series.
Most notably, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had three players suspended for a total of six games, all from a result of actions in its Game 3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.  Forward Craig Adams (1 game), 40+ goal scorer James Neal (1 game) and forward Aaron Asham (4 games) will all be serving time on the sidelines for incidents that have come in a heated, intense, rivalry.  Head Coach Dan Bylsma was fined $10K for his team's actions.

The majority of the suspensions handed out have been due to contact to a players' head, a huge part of the new NHL that the league is trying to move away from.  Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw was suspended three games for delivering a blow to the head of Phoenix Coyote goalie Mike Smith when Smith came out behind the net to play the puck.
Many avid hockey fans that have been hooked to their TV sets this past week watching all of the action believe that the tone was set at the end of Game 1 of the Nashville Predators vs. Detroit Red Wings series when Preds d-man Shea Weber grabbed superstar Henrik Zetterberg's head and slammed it into the glass, only triggering a $5K fine from Shanny.  The inconsistency in the decisions from the NHL has triggered many hockey fans to be unhappy because there is a sense that certain players are being favored in questionable situations.
Coyotes forward Raffi Torres is the most recent recipient of a suspension, as he has been suspended indefinitely until he has a hearing with Shanahan about his hit on Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa, forcing Hossa to be carted off the ice on a stretcher.
The complete list of all suspended players is below:
Byron Bitz (Vancouver)- 2 games
Matt Carkner (Ottawa)- 1 game
Carl Hagelin (NY Rangers)- 3 games
James Neal (Pittsburgh)- 1 game
Aaron Asham (Pittsburgh)- 4 games
Craig Adams (Pittsburgh)- 1 game
Nicklas Backstrom (Washington)- 1 game
Andrew Shaw (Chicago)- 3 games
Raffi Torres (Phoenix)- Indefinitely