Music: {allcanada} SUSPENSION WON'T CHANGE OILERS' HALL

Monday, February 25, 2013

{allcanada} SUSPENSION WON'T CHANGE OILERS' HALL

Order "7lbs in 7 days" on DVD from www.foodmatters.tv today

The Edmonton Journal points out one of Taylor Hall's objectives this season was to do more of the hunting, rather than be the hunted.

So regardless of the fact he now has a record with the NHL's department of player safety, he intends to continue to play hard. And if that means delivering a hit late in the game to ignite his team, that's what the Edmonton Oilers winger is going to do.

"I've tried to change my game a little bit in respect to not getting hit as much, but as far as being physical and trying to play clean hockey, that's not going to change," Hall said on Sunday. One night earlier, he had served the first instalment of the two-game suspension he received for his open-ice, late third period knee-on-thigh hit on Cal Clutterbuck of the Minnesota Wild.

"I'm not a dirty player and I felt bad seeing him on the ice ... but I'm still going to try and play clean and play physical."

Another Journal article reflects on how after being hit too often in past seasons, Hall finally accepted over the summer that he needed to alter his style of play. He has been the Oilers best forward so far.

"When I played reckless and on the edge, it took away from the other parts of my game, like play-making and my defensive play. Not being injured, absorbing fewer hits and having my head up more has allowed me to see the game a bit better," he said. "I feel like I have the puck the same amount of time and I feel I'm still open for my linemates. I'm not putting myself into tough areas and I'm not worried about getting hit because I'm more aware on the ice.

"Even though it has only been 16 games, I believe with the subtle changes I've made I probably won't get hurt as much as I did before. I watched a guy like RG3 (Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin) and he's always on the edge and going headfirst into tackles. Then he gets his knee blown up and it was bound to happen with the way he plays. You can look around the contact sports and the guys who play too much on the edge always seem to get hurt, and it hampers them.

"I needed to change my game to avoid that."