Any of us who've played hockey know things go on that aren't always seen as acceptable in everyday life, hell I remember going to a face-off w/ a stick that was CLEARLY BROKE, but it had 1 hell of a point on the top of the blade, that I was wanting to use to hook an opposing players mid-section. The fucking stick broke way too easily so it clearly didn't do its job, and I would usually have been seen as the lady byng on my team!
I can't say it was the best sportsmanship play of the year, but he didn't elbow the fuck in the head after an icing call....It just sounds like the commentators are Boston apologists IMO....