This afternoon the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen has been suspended one game. As a violation under Rule 23.6, Physical Infractions Category, Rantanen incurred two game misconduct penalties in his last 41 games, which automatically carries a one game suspension. Such infractions have occurred in an especially short timeline however, just the last three games for Rantanen. It is a bit unusual for the 29-year-old, who has never been categorized as much of a dirty player.
Late in last Tuesday’s loss versus the Islanders, Rantanen was ejected after shoving Alexander Romanov into the boards in a dangerous play where the defenseman skidded into the boards with no chance to stop. The hit landed Romanov on injured reserve, but ultimately, the league chose not to suspend Rantanen.
Meanwhile, apparently unperturbed, just last night Rantanen viciously boarded Calgary forward Matthew Coronato, where he again was thrown out of the game with a misconduct. Although Coronato turned away at the last second, making himself especially vulnerable, Rantanen was already flying in, set to deliver a hard hit on the numbers. Thankfully Coronato returned to the game, but with a noticeable nose injury, as the Flames triumphed in a shootout.
Now, given that the current one game suspension is automatic with no further mention, additional discipline could come to Rantanen for the Coronato incident as well, especially considering what all transpired with the 29-year-old’s reckless play throughout the week. For now, Dallas will prepare to take on Edmonton on Tuesday without their superstar, who is tied for the team lead in points.
Kind of a joke; whatever you think of his hit against the Islanders (he wasn’t penalized) this isn’t a first-time occurrence. A stronger message should be sent that ramming a guy on the numbers into the boards won’t be tolerated… 1 game is like “yeah I guess we have to make like we care”…
he was penalized, just somehow didn’t get anything from the DoPS
Because he was pushed from behind as well and clipped skates with the defender.
He was not
Mayfield’s skate clipped his and momentum pushed him into Romanov – shouldnt have been a boarding call.
well league review says otherwise sorry bud
League review decided not to suspend him for the hit due to the contact from mayfield.
A hit from the side when the player isn’t facing the boards isn’t boarding, shouldn’t even have been a penalty. The NHL is getting soft.
That hit was on the numbers, doesn’t matter if he approaches from the side initially the replays show it was on the numbers
I have watched this in slow motion a dozen times, mikko and coranatto are skating stride for stride and the hit turns him sideways into the boards. This isn’t a biased take – sorry this isn’t boarding.
JJ you must be a fanboy. He came out of the penalty box and skated hard to hit Coronato in the neck from behind head first into the boards. Coronato was blindsided, no chance this wasn’t a predatory hit. He should get 5 games minimum. He is racking up a number of dirty hits from behind and it is time he is suspended to teach him this is unacceptable behaviour.
Racking up? Did we watch the hit on Romanov? Coranato turned into the boards and leaned over as he was being hit, it looked bad for sure but when mikko first leaned into him his back wasn’t turned. I get why it was called but it isn’t suspension worthy.
Principal point of contact was the numbers, so yes it undeniably was, and there was determined to be enough time for him to not explode into the hit or drive into him with his arm up, clearly you overlooked something in the slo-mo or need a vision check up
That hit on Coronato seemed predatory. I didn’t watch the game, did anything precede it that might’ve set him off?
Anyway, he should get time off in addition to the auto 1 gamer.
Yeah hitting the guy with the puck right when you come out of the box is predatory, lol
Why exactly? Neither of the misconducts were even warranted.
I dunno what’s gotten into Mikko,very uncharacteristic
Yeah hitting the player with the puck, what a goon.
Saying the same thing over and over doesn’t make it true
Well obviously the league agrees as the only reason he was suspended was because of the calls on ice, no additional discipline.
He’s had to go without weed for a long time now. Everyone misses Colorado when they move away.
Players take shots at Rantanen all the time, I’m glad to see he’s returning the favor, Good for Mikko!!!!!
For real, it wasn’t even dirty. Hockey is getting soft.
even if so these aren’t guys who did, i kinda disagree with your biased statement
Hitting someone in the side as your are skating with them stride for stride isn’t boarding, no bias here.
principal point of contact was the numbers not the side, maybe no bias but you definitely need to understand what boarding is
Unreal. I have no horse in this race, but shouldn’t be a suspension for this. Sure, if he hits him like that without the Mayfield interference throw the book at him, but that’s not what happened. The only reason that hit happened was because Mayfield interfered and took out Rantanen’s leg.
Eh disregard. I thought he got the suspension for Romanov. I need to learn how to read.
Damn tough blow for the Islanders, Rantanen gets nothing for that hit but then 1 game for his hit on Coranato for his 2nd Boarding Game Misconduct in 3 games… Rantanen is a great player and i wouldnt even call a dirty player, but thats really light and should piss off Islanders and Flames fans, though he lacks a history but im not sure Rempe Wilson or Raffi Torres had 2 Game Misconducts in a 3 game span, that is a lack of discipline
Its time for teams to go after Rantanen… settle it ON the ice where it needs to be taken care of.
Disrespectful SOB should be suspended much more than one game! What a joke!
This thing reads like it was written by an angry Avs fan still not over the trade…..JFC.