Emma: Daniel Carcillo's Cheap Shot A Shameful Act

By Chris Emma--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Blackhawks are built for speed. They play a quick, finesse game of hockey, letting their skill beat opponents. It's worked for two Stanley Cups.

Winnipeg Jets are made to play a tough, physical game. They're a team full of bruisers that take an opponent out of their element.

Case in point: Friday's 4-2 Chicago loss to Winnipeg. The Blackhawks were pushed and shoved around.

Who's their enforcer to take charge?

Trick question. That's not how the Blackhawks play. And that's not why Daniel Carcillo was on the ice late in the second period.

But the Jets' Mathieu Perreault was slowly skating away from the action and Carcillo couldn't help himself. He cross-checked Perreault in the back hard, and the center went down.

Call this what it was — vicious, goon-like, stupid.

Perreault was down on the ice for several minutes as a scrum formed around his disengaged body. He soon got up and skated off the ice, not returning to the game.

BLackhawks coach Joel Quenneville declined comment on the hit, but he seemed to be betrayed by Carcillo's actions. This was the player he put faith in this offseason, welcoming him back to Chicago. He gave Carcillo a chance to prove he can be productive.

Winnipeg's Paul Maurice didn't hold back.

"It was a vicious cross-check to an unsuspecting player," he said.

The NHL is likely to agree. This incident is almost certain to be reviewed by the league, and a suspension could be coming. At the very least, a fine slip will be waiting in Carcillo's locker at Johnny's IceHouse. Repercussions will be coming.

It's a shame, too. Carcillo finally seemed to have his reputation intact. He had shed that persona of a dangerous, reckless hockey player and became a serviceable forward for the Blackhawks.

This is "Carbomb," whose past precedes him. He's been suspended multiple times for acts similar to Friday's. He even tore his ACL in 2012 while attempting a cheap shot on then-Edmonton forward Tom Gilbert. It was an embarrassment to the Blackhawks organization.

Hesitation followed the decision to bring Carcillo back to the Blackhawks this fall. Why did they want him?

Because he was changed — a different player from that checked past. The goon reputation seemed to be gone. Heck, he may be past those dirty hits, and this was just a momentary lapse in judgement.

None of that mattered when Perreault was lying motionless on the United Center ice because of Carcillo's vicious attack.

Carbomb made a shameful return.