The Department of Player Safety has made a ruling and the Tampa Bay Lightning will be without one of their most experienced playoff performers. Alex Killorn has received a one-game suspension for his hit on New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson last night. As the accompanying video explains:
It is important to note that this is not a case where a sudden or unexpected movement by Nelson just prior to contact, turns a legal hit into an illegal one. From the moment that Nelson initially collects the puck and until contact is made, Killorn sees nothing but his numbers. While we accept Tampa Bay’s assertion that Killorn makes some attempt to deliver this check from the side, this is still a forceful hit from behind on a defenseless player who is no longer in possession of the puck.
Killorn will effectively miss two full games because of the hit since he was given a game misconduct last night at 5:55 of the first period. Nelson did leave the game for a period of time but returned later.
The league also pointed out that Killorn does not have a significant disciplinary history, having been fined just once in his career. He’ll have to miss game three but can make a return to the Tampa lineup after that.
Would love the NHL to adopt some standards with suspensions. Niskanen cross check to face is not = to a late hit and marginally from behind. He didn’t body him between the #s. It was to back of shoulder as player pulled up and turned. No way the 2 incidents are worthy of same punishment. My beef is more with the Niskanen ruling.
I didn’t see which player, think it was Goodrow or Coleman, but not sure…someone crosschecked Nelson in the back of the head into the glass. Dirtier play than the Killorn hit even.
Yeah – I woulda been fine with just the 5+game for Killorn but that Goodrow cross check was nasty as hell and what I thought what DoPS shoulda looked at
Boston had a few dirtier hits on us during the second round that went unnoticed as well. To call that a 5 minute and misconduct in the first period of a conference final game was excessive. Not another game. Be consistent or let them play.