The Department of Player Safety has handed out a $2,500 fine to Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian for unsportsmanlike conduct, following his actions in last night’s game. Notably, this is not the “maximum allowable under the CBA,” words hockey fans have come to know (and hate) in recent years.
With the Oilers down 3-0 in game two of their third-round series, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram took a hit and ended up partially on his opponent’s bench. Kassian, on the bench, decided to not let Byram leave intact and pulled the helmet off the Colorado defender. When Byram retaliated by shoving the Oilers forward, they both ended up with minor penalties.
Kassian will earn a little bit more on review, as the league hands him a fine today. The Oilers are down 2-0 in the series as they head back to Edmonton, and this incident will cause the league to keep a bit of a closer watch over Kassian the rest of the way. While it isn’t a suspension, the fine can be taken into account in any future disciplinary decisions.
In fact, it’s already the second fine that Kassian has received in these playoffs, following the cross-check he delivered to Sean Durzi earlier on. It’s not exactly a “three strikes” rule in the NHL but the league likely will escalate the penalties at some point if the Oilers forward continues to be involved in supplementary discipline decisions.
Cave man Kassian.
Wow, epic blast. More and more it seems that hockey may be a bit too rough for your thin skin.
Speaking of epic blasts…
ePiC bLaSt
Kuznetsov was suspended for 3 games last time he had an epic blast.
I haven’t seen an NHL playoff season In recent memory where players are actively trying to hurt the opposition, How many netminders have been run since the playoffs began?
Keep a closer eye on him…. What? I’m sure the league watches all the games closely.
$2,500 is the only way he can contribute to the game.
I love the shenanigans of hockey lol