Regeln » . San Jose trails the series 2-0 heading

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said Friday that the organization strongly disagrees with the NHLs decision to suspend forward Raffi Torres for a hit that knocked out Los Angeles forward Jarret Stoll. Wilson says Torres will not appeal the suspension because he does not want to be a distraction to the team. San Jose trails the series 2-0 heading into Game 3 at home on Saturday night. "It is abundantly clear that this was a clean hockey hit," Wilson said in a statement. "As noted by the NHL, Raffis initial point of contact was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on an opponent who was playing the puck. He did not leave his feet or elevate, he kept his shoulder tucked and elbow down at his side, and he was gliding -- not skating or charging." The NHLs Department of Player Safety sharply disagreed while suspending Torres on Thursday for the rest of the second-round series. It is the fourth career suspension for Torres, who is considered a repeat offender in dangerous hits under the leagues collective bargaining agreement. Stoll was bent forward while trying to play a bouncing puck when Torres approached him from the side for a violent hit in Game 1 on Tuesday night. Stolls head snapped back violently before he fell forward onto the ice. In an explanatory video released by Brendan Shanahan, the NHLs senior vice-president of player safety, he said Stolls head was "the principal point of contact" in the hit, creating grounds for suspension. Although Torres initially made contact with Stolls right shoulder, Shanahan ruled that the shoulder hit was only a glancing blow, as evidenced by the direction both players travelled after the contact. Wilson said the head must be targeted to violate Rule 48.1 and there is no evidence that Torres targeted Stolls head. Wilson also said Stoll put himself in a vulnerable position just before the hit to play a bouncing puck. "It appears that the NHL has not only made an inappropriate application of this rule but is trying to make an example out of a player who is being judged on past events, one who has changed his game dramatically this season and taken only six minor penalties in 39 games," Wilson said. While playing for Phoenix last season, Torres received a 21-game suspension -- initially 25 games -- for a high hit on Chicago star Marian Hossa in the first round of the playoffs. Torres was suspended for two games in January 2012 for charging Minnesota defenceman Nate Prosser, and he sat out four games in April 2011 for a hit to the head of Edmontons Jordan Eberle while playing for Vancouver. Stoll missed Game 2 of the series and there is no timetable for his return. "Its a clean hit," Sharks forward Logan Couture said. "Unfortunately, the guy got injured. If they suspended guys for every time someone else got hurt, even if its a clean hit, there would be a lot of suspensions in this league. And its just not fair." Torres teammates said they are using Torres absence as inspiration. "Its the playoffs you always find something to rally," forward Scott Gomez said. "Hes a great teammate and a great guy and we want him to play. Hes tremendous in the room with the young guys. Its our job to get it to the next round so he can play." Swell Flaske Blå Marmor . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Swell Flaske 500 Ml .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. http://www.swellflaskenorge.com/swell-flaske-marmor.html . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Swell Flaske Liberty . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Swell Traveler Mug . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have settled on a starting offensive line, with Kelvin Beachum at left tackle and former first-round draft pick Luke Joeckel moving to left guard.Beachum and Joeckel spent much of training camp splitting repetitions at both positions. Coach Gus Bradley picked Beachum because of his body of work that hes had as well as what hes shown to us in camp.The Jaguars gave Beachum a five-year, $45 million contract in free agency and declined to pick up a fifth-year option for 2017 in Joeckels contract, so the outcome is what mmany expected.dddddddddddd Joeckel was the second overall pick in the 2013 draft.The big question is whether Beachum can return to form. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last October, missed most of the offseason and the first two preseason games. He was clearly rusty in his Jaguars preseason debut against Cincinnati on Sunday.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '