mtkb: Earth to idiot: The reason the Marchand Salo play was so dirty was that Salo didn't, couldn't have seen it coming. Marchand actually drops his shoulder and feigns playing the puck, which turns Salo sideways to amost attempt to block the chip up the wall, then he takes him out just above the knee.
This is worlds apart from "Bailing" on a hit you see coming at the very last minute (ala Raymond on Marchand in SCF last year) and worlds apart from a hip check when an attacking player thinks he has the angle and is trying to get by you wide-side.
mktb: Ballard's hit there on McGinn isn't something I like, but it's miles apart from the Salo Marchand hit also. Ballard squares him up and makes no attempt on the play, if anything he feigns being ready to take the hit from McGinn, who is leading hard with his shoulder loading up.
if you add "reading" to your vast skill-set, you'll see that I actually agreed 100% with your assessment of Marchand's hit on Salo...
as for your attempts to distinguish the various hits, I note that Peter Chiarelli doesnt share your views. I recall your boastful predictions during the SCF; if memory serves you were a few goals off in a few of the games. On balance, I think I put more stock in his opinion than yours...