April 14: It’s a two-game suspension for Cotter, DoPS announced. He’ll miss New Jersey’s remaining regular season schedule but will be eligible for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Hurricanes.
April 13: Devils center Paul Cotter received a match penalty today against the Islanders and the league has decided that they want to take a closer look at it. The Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link) that Cotter will have a hearing on Monday for his illegal check to the head on defenseman Adam Pelech.
The incident (video link) occurred near the six-minute mark of the second period with Cotter being ejected for it. Meanwhile, Pelech sustained an upper-body injury on the play and did not return. Following the game, head coach Patrick Roy didn’t have an immediate update on Pelech’s condition but with just two games left in their season, it wouldn’t be surprising if they shut him down.
Cotter has not been suspended in his 217-game NHL career but this is the second time he received a match penalty for an illegal check to the head; the other instance came back in 2023 when he was with Vegas but no supplementary discipline came his way. New Jersey has two games remaining this season so any suspension longer than that would mean he’d miss the beginning of their opening-round playoff series against Carolina.
I’m suprised Trenin from the Wild isn’t getting a hearing for punching Derek Forbert in the face while he was on the ice with a linesman restraining him. That would’ve caused a bench clearing brawl back in the day.
I greatly miss those days!!
@Gbear – I was listening to the Canucks’ side that night, and Landon Ferraro was none too pleased with Trenin. That was a 5-alarm case of wires touching, with complete lack of conscience by Trenin and no respect for Forbort.
@Mac – And right in front of the Canucks bench. They’re out of the playoffs, couldn’t someone just say the hell with it and go after Trenin? Their teammate is clutching his face and they just stand there and watch?!!
I miss the good old days. :/
@Gbear – Something similar happened with the Rangers earlier this season. He was surrounded by four opposition players, with no other Blueshirts coming to his aid. The Captain, Dave Maloney, commented about that and said, “There’s something rotten in Denmark here!”
This was a good hit….. Mark Messier would’ve been sent to El Salvador for his clean hit on American Mike Modano .
Well, in 2 games we can say, “Welcome back Cotter”
That’s a good one. I didn’t think of that.
They need to play that song during his first shift back. :D
It could’ve been a great, clean open ice check if Cotter had actually committed to it. But he got nonchalant and how Pelech’s nose is halfway up his brain.