The Department of Player Safety has given a two-game suspension to Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Corey Perry. As the accompanying video explains:
It is important to note that DeAngelo does not engage with Perry in any way prior to spearing him, choosing to deliver this strike when Perry is not looking at him.
What causes this play to rise to the level of a suspension is the premeditated nature of the foul against an unsuspecting opponent well after the whistle, the area of the body where the spear was delivered, and the force of the blow.
The DoPS notes that DeAngelo has no relevant history in this case, with a previous suspension coming automatically for abuse of an official in 2017. He did receive a five-minute major and game misconduct for the spreading incident last night.
DeAngelo admitted that he was “trying to give [Perry] a little shot” but did not try to hit him in the groin. He’ll miss games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins in what has been a tumultuous season for the Flyers.