For the second time today, the Department of Player Safety has issued a two-game suspension. This time, it will be Canadiens winger Josh Anderson who sits as the league issued (video link) a two-game ban for boarding.
The incident occurred midway through the third period in Saturday’s game against Vegas when Anderson hit blueliner Alex Pietrangelo from behind in front of the Golden Knights’ bench. Pietrangelo was able to remain in the game while Anderson received a five-minute major penalty plus a game misconduct on the play. The video notes how Anderson changed his angle in order to deliver the hit, one that drove him forcibly into the boards.
This is the first suspension for Anderson who will miss Montreal’s upcoming games against Detroit and Vancouver on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. He will forfeit nearly $60K in salary with the money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
In an effort to eliminate these types of hits, the punishment should have been much greater. It’s not a bang bang play where the player changes direction while contact is imminent, Anderson changes his path AND follows thru with the hit. As a 1st timer he should get a little leeway but it should be closer to 4-5 games. Not just 2. Eventually one of these things is gonna happen against a Kucherov, Matthews, McDavid, or Barkov and eliminate an ELITE level player long term or permanently and the league is gonna be kicking themselves for not enforcing stronger penalties for the dirty plays. The league has implemented the enforcer rule so players can’t police it, and they refuse to penalize at a level that makes the dirty plays a big enough penalty to deter guys from doing them. It’s going to eventually cost them. Allow the players/teams to enforce respect from their colleagues or place stronger punishments for their actions.
You have to first stop players from turning at the last second to draw a penalty that was a gutless play by Alex he is going to get hurt if he keeps it up