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Juraj Slafkovsky Suspended Two Games

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The Montreal Canadiens will be without the first-overall pick for the next few days as Juraj Slafkovsky has been given a two-game suspension by the Department of Player Safety for his hit on Matt Luff. As the accompanying video explains:

It is important to note that while Luff does turn to face the wall, he does not do so just prior to or simultaneous with contact in a way that turns a legal check into an illegal one. From the time he crosses the blue line, Slafkovsky is looking at Luff’s numbers. The onus is on Slavkovsky to deliver this check in a legal fashion, minimize the force of the contact, or avoid the hit entirely. 

As expected, the league took into account Luff’s subsequent injury – wrist surgery that will keep him out 10-12 weeks – in determining the punishment. This will be the first supplementary discipline of Slafkovsky’s young career but will now be taken into consideration whenever there is another borderline incident.

It is also the second Montreal Canadiens forward that has been suspended for boarding in just a few days, after Josh Anderson also received a two-game ban for his hit on Alex Pietrangelo. They occurred at nearly identical spots on the ice (though in different rinks), and resulted in the same discipline.

Slafkovsky will miss games against the Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Josh Anderson Receives Two-Game Suspension

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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.

Matthew Tkachuk Suspended Two Games For High-Sticking

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Earlier today it was reported that Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk would have a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for his high stick on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick last night. That hearing has apparently come and gone and the league has decided to suspend the winger for two games for the infraction.

As the accompanying video explains:

“It is important to note that this is not a reckless or careless use of the stick during a normal hockey play. Rather, this is a controlled and purposeful stick directed at the head of an opponent. While we have heard Tkachuk’s argument that he was not intentionally aiming for quick’s face in an attempt to injure him, he was intentionally using the blade of his stick to hit an opponent in the head, making contact with his face. And while this stick is delivered without substantial force, it is only because of the lack of force that this play is not met with more severe discipline.”

When discussing the length of the suspension, the video also takes into account Tkachuk’s previous disciplinary history, including one fine and three suspensions. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Tkachuk will forfeit $102,702.70 which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident happened at 19:22 of the third period during Florida’s 5-4 loss to the Kings. As Quick froze the puck, Tkachuk stuck his stick blade inside the goaltender’s mask. Tkachuk was assessed a two-minute penalty and a misconduct on the play.

Lightning Reinstate Ian Cole

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October 15: The NHL has completed their investigation into the matter less than a week after allegations were raised. The league released a statement saying they found no evidence to substantiate the allegations made against Cole, and that the league considers the matter closed.

The investigation included two separate interviews with Mr. Cole as well as interviews with NHL club personnel and other individuals with potentially relevant information. Futher, the investigation included a detailed review of online and social media, public data, and court records and law enforcement checks. In addition, despite attempts by the League to make contact with the anonymous source of the social media post, those efforts were unsuccessful.

October 9: Earlier this week, allegations of sexual assault were made against Lightning defenseman Ian Cole. Tonight, the team announced that they’ve suspended the blueliner and issued the following statement:

The Tampa Bay Lightning is aware of the allegations against player Ian Cole and are cooperating fully with the NHL on an investigation. Our organization takes these allegations very seriously. While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation. No members of the organization, including players, will comment further at this time.

The 33-year-old signed a one-year, $3MM deal with Tampa Bay on the opening day of free agency using some of the cap room they freed up when they traded Ryan McDonagh to Nashville.  The suspension is with pay so there is no effect on the salary cap.  Cole spent last season with Carolina, collecting 19 points in 75 games while averaging just over 17 minutes per game.

Meanwhile, Cole’s agent Kevin Magnuson released the following statement on behalf of his client to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman:

I take the allegations made against me today in an anonymous tweet very seriously. I completely deny these allegations and will fully cooperate with the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning, their officials and legal departments in the forthcoming investigation. I look forward to clearing my name and demonstrating to the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning that these allegations are unfounded. I will have no further comment until the NHL’s investigation concludes.

Kings Forward Jacob Doty Receives Two-Game Suspension

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The Department of Player Safety has handed down another suspension, announcing (video link) that Kings forward Jacob Doty has received a two-game suspension for interference on Sharks winger Jeffrey Viel.

The incident occurred midway through the second period in Wednesday’s preseason contest.  Doty was assessed a five-minute major penalty along with a game misconduct on the play.  Viel, meanwhile, was able to remain in the game.

The league’s ruling states that the suspension is to “be served in the next two consecutive games in which he is eligible to participate for his Club”.  In this case, it’s likely the next two preseason games that the 29-year-old won’t be suiting up for.  Doty has spent the last three seasons in the Kings’ farm system, primarily playing with AHL Ontario; he had three points and 89 penalty minutes in 41 games with the Reign in 2021-22.

Darnell Nurse Suspended One Game

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As expected, the Edmonton Oilers will be without star defenseman Darnell Nurse when they try to stay alive tomorrow night. The Department of Player Safety has announced a one-game suspension following last night’s head-butting incident, ruling Nurse out for game six. As the accompanying video explains:

It is important to note that this is not an accidental collision that occurs when two players are moving at speed and heads collide when attempting to throw a legal body check. This is an unacceptable head-butt delivered with the top of the helmet, delivered with the top of the helmet directly to an opponent’s face, with force. 

The DoPS also handed out a $5,000 fine to his Oilers’ teammate Zack Kassian, for the cross-check he delivered on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi last night.

For Nurse, it is a brutal decision that will leave his team shorthanded in the most important game of the season. The incident occurred late in the second period with the Kings on the powerplay, and was not penalized by the on-ice officials. As the league notes, there is no significant history of this behavior from the Oilers defenseman (at least in terms of supplementary discipline) as he has just one previous suspension–a three-game ban for serving as the aggressor in a 2016 fight.

There was also no injury on the play for Phillip Danault, who would go on to score in the third period and finish the game. Those factors will at least keep Nurse available for a game seven, should the series reach that.

It was actually Kassian’s cross-check that put the Oilers on the penalty kill in the first place, as he delivered a hard shot to the back of Durzi after the Kings’ defenseman was hit by Evander Kane. As Kane and Blake Lizotte engaged and received matching roughing penalties, Kassian cross-checked Durzi and took his own two-minute minor. Luckily, at least for the Oilers, it will only cost Kassian some money and not a chance to play in game six when they will need all hands on deck to avoid a disappointing series result.

In a related move, Edmonton recalled Philip Broberg from Bakersfield of the AHL. He played in 23 games with the Oilers during the regular season and could be an option to take Nurse’s place in the lineup.

Four Players Avoid Suspension, Earn Fines

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The first night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs was a wild one, with penalties, fights, and dangerous plays happening all across the league. Kyle Clifford will have a hearing later today for his transgression, but four other players have avoided suspensions entirely. Jared Spurgeon, Wayne Simmonds, Pat Maroon, and Corey Perry have all earned fines for their respective incidents, with the Minnesota Wild captain’s punishment especially notable, given his importance to his team.

Simmonds, Maroon, and Perry were all involved in the same incident, a scrum and subsequent fights that occurred when the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning was already decided on the scoreboard. All three earned misconducts, and have now been fined for unsportsmanlike conduct. Simmonds and Maroon will both be required to pay $2,250, while Perry faces a $2,500 fine. All three are the maximum allowable under the CBA and are based on their respective salaries.

Spurgeon meanwhile appeared much more in danger of a suspension, given how his incident was perceived. He has been fined $5,000–again the maximum allowable under the CBA–for his cross-check on the ankle of St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich. The on-ice officials handed out a two-minute minor penalty late in the third period for the play, which was an obvious outburst of frustration as the Wild lost 4-0.

Given how important he is for the Wild, a fine is the absolute best outcome the team could have hoped for. He will, however, be under increased scrutiny for the rest of the playoffs.

Kyle Clifford, Wayne Simmonds Earn Fines

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Sometimes a game that has so much hype surrounding it can turn into something very different, very quickly. With so many talking about last night’s Toronto Maple Leafs-Tampa Bay Lightning game as a potential first-round preview, there was a buzz in the air when the game started. In the end, the Maple Leafs are just lucky to escape without any suspensions.

Both Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds have earned fines today for incidents in last night’s game, which turned into a circus after Erik Kallgren allowed six straight goals in just over 20 minutes of gameplay. The game finished 8-1, with the Maple Leafs taking 63 minutes in penalties and the Lightning adding 49 of their own.

Clifford was fined $2,500 for his high-stick on Corey Perry, when he reached over the top of officials to get at the restrained Tampa Bay forward. Clifford was given a match penalty which comes with an automatic review, but Perry did not suffer an injury on the play. He will escape without a suspension, though his fine was the maximum allowable under the CBA.

For Simmonds, it’s a $2,250 fine for charging Mikhail Sergachev, a play that didn’t even result in a penalty from the on-ice officials. Simmonds did end up with 15 minutes in penalties, including a misconduct as the referees tried to get control of the game. He too will avoid a suspension, though, like any fine, this will be considered whenever there is another supplementary discipline decision.

Casey Cizikas Receives One-Game Suspension

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With the Islanders in action tonight against St. Louis, the disciplinary hearing for center Casey Cizikas needed to be held quickly.  That indeed happened as the Department of Player Safety has made their ruling, announcing (video link) that the veteran has received a one-game suspension for his hit last night on Carolina defenseman Brendan Smith.

The incident occurred just seven seconds into the third period with Cizikas receiving a minor penalty on the play.  Smith, meanwhile, left the game and did not return with no word on how long he might be out for.  It’s the first time that Cizikas has received any sort of supplementary discipline from the league.

Cizikas will forfeit $12.5K in salary as a result of the suspension and the money will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.  He will be eligible to return to New York’s lineup on Tuesday when they host Pittsburgh.

Colton Sissons, Evander Kane Earn Fines

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The NHL Department of Player Safety has handed out a pair of fines today, deciding against suspensions for both Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons and Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane.

Kane has earned a $5,000 fine for kneeing Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi in last night’s game, the maximum allowable under the CBA. The incident in question took place in the second period, with Kane extending his leg to get a piece of Durzi as the puck was sent up ice. The Oilers forward received a two-minute minor penalty for the hit and will now lose a bit of cash as well.

Sissons meanwhile has earned a $2,500 fine for spearing Ottawa Senators forward Josh Norris in last night’s match. That amount is notably not the maximum, and Sissons did not receive a penalty from the on-ice officials.

While they’ve avoided suspensions this time, both incidents will go on the record for Kane and Sissons, meaning any future transgressions could be penalized more harshly. Still, given how important every game is down the stretch, being available for their teams is obviously the most important thing.

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