1:01 p.m. — The Department of Player Safety have suspended Wood for two games for boarding Namestnikov.
8:53 a.m. — The Department of Player Safety announced they will hold a hearing today for the New Jersey Devils Miles Wood for his boarding of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov during Saturday’s game. Watch the video here.
Early in the second period, Wood appeared to leave his feet and delivered a hit to Namestnikov from behind, sending his head into the boards. To make matters worse, Tampa Bay teammate Andrej Sustr attempted to come to Namestnikov’s aid, but instead took a punch to the visor and sustained a bloody face.
Wood, who has had no previous suspensions, was given a two-minute minor penalty for boarding. He also received a two-minute minor for roughing for the fight with Sustr, which the Tampa Bay defenseman also received. To make matters worse for Tampa Bay, Wood also scored the game-winning goal.
Should easily be a suspension. He’s lucky Namestnikov didn’t get seriously injured as that would’ve added to his suspension.
Easily? Nobody got hurt and it was a two minute minor. He isn’t Marchand. I thought one game or a fine would have sufficed but I guess I can live with two games. This will kill our pressure on the bottom 6
He’s lucky Namestnikov didn’t get hurt. It was a clear boarding penalty (back was turned towards Woods and the numbers were clearly facing him). He also left his feet when he didn’t need too. Prior history should factor, but you can’t just decide not to suspend a guy because he’s never had a history. If its a bad/dirty hit, then no prior history shouldn’t factor into the decision. Filip Forsberg had a similar hit on Jimmy Vesey and got three games.
btw I’ve seen every TBL game this year. The NJD have played TWO “helluva” games against them. Both games were fast and very exciting to watch. The first game (back in Oct I think) saw NJ take a 1-0 lead, TBL score two to lead 2-1; NJD score two to lead 3-2; TBL score two to lead 4-3; NJD then scored with about 3 min in regulation to force OT… There was no scoring in OT and NJ won the shootout 1-0 with a goal in the third round.
Let’s all play Wheel of Suspension! Let’s see where the wheel lands today!
With the Devils luck it’ll be for 10 games or something #NJDVsEveryone
Wood should have received a game misconduct for the hit on Namestnikov. The fact that he didn’t is probably the reason the suspension was two games rather than one. Had he been ejected as he should have been, the suspension probably would have been for one game.