There is one thing that you can always count on and that is the Vice-President of the NHL and the chief judge and executioner of league justice, Brian Burke is always consistent in his inconsistency.

On Thursday night during the opener of the Western Conference Semi-final Dallas’ Grant Marshall drove the butt end of his stick into Kelly Buckburger’s eyehole, which quickly blew up like Bim the Michelin Man. Marshall got a 5 minute major and a game misconduct while Buckburger missed the rest of the game and his series status is up in the air. Oiler Co-Captain Doug Weight called the move a “deliberate attempt to injure,” and Brian Burke, who was at the game, promised that the incident was worthy of review.

On Friday the word came down – The standard $1000.00 fine but there will be no suspension for Grant Marshall “Elbowing” Kelly Buckburger.

I have no idea what tape Brian watched but the one I saw clearly indicated Marshall was a very, very bad boy, and that his “Elbow” had Eastman written on it, but even if you agree or disagree with the call – the point is not, “should there have been a suspension or not?”

The issue here is the inherent problem with the system and ultimately Brian Burke, because no one anywhere has a clue about who is going to get what, on any given day.

Let’s say you’re a criminal. One day you hi-jack a car and get arrested and the Judge gives you a suspended sentence. (Welcome to Canada). This little deterrent didn’t convince you to stop, so you go out and steal another car. This time when you’re caught the Judge sentences you to a public execution. Does that sound fair? That’s a bad example because if you stole my car, you’re damn right it sounds fair, and in the same vein, on Thursday night I’m sure Kelly would have liked to have seen Marshall get some rack time at least.

The point is there is no consistency – no predictability to the decisions. Why does Brian do the things that he does? I have no clue – and if you think you know, seek immediate therapy because you’re not well. Maybe Brian does what he does simply because he’s the all-powerful Brian Burke. He can quote the rules chapter and verse but he interprets them in his peculiar Burke-ian manner that leaves most people scratching their heads and team players looking for revenge.

It’s never boring, it’s never dull, but is it good for the game!

Never!

So what can we expect on Saturday when these two teams meet up for round two? Kelly Buckburger will be out of the game and Marshall will be a marked man. The reason he will be marked is that the Minister of Justice for the NHL is Brain Burke.

Actually – maybe Brian has the right idea!