NHL Player Safety has real work to do after two questionable incidents in the Leafs-Lightning game
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Update (10:32AM): According to The Hockey News' David Alter, Bobby McMann will have a hearing from the NHL Player Safety Department for his high-stick on Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Hearings typically come with suspensions, although McMann has never been suspended in his career, so he won't be under as much scrutiny. The NHL has until 5pm to make a decision regarding McMann's discipline.
The NHL is going to have their hands full after Monday's game between Tampa Bay and Toronto after two separate incidents led to game misconducts with a potential for more discipline down the road.
It was a testy affair between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night, and while the Leafs came away with a 2-0 shutout win, there were plenty of fireworks prior to the final buzzer.
The game wasn't a back and forth shootout, but it was a penalty-ridden one. There were a combined 36 PIM between the two teams, including a fight between Dakota Joshua and Max Crozier.
Breaking down the two match penalties in Tampa Bay vs. Toronto clash
It also saw two match penalties, first being Gage Goncalves after he struck Maple Leafs defenseman Dakota Mermis knee-on-knee, leading to Mermis immediately grimacing in pain, eventually leaving for the dressing room.
It was a brutal looking hit and all we can hope is that Mermis isn't seriously injured.
But Toronto didn't skate away unscathed either, as the team also got a match penalty of their own. Bobby McMann was ejected after his stick caught Oliver Bjorkstrand in the head after they were shoving back and forth.
While it wasn't a malicious blow, there was incidental contact and the referees decided it was in the right to eject McMann even if his actions weren't as seemingly intentional as Goncalves' hit.
Craig Berube wasn't too happy afterwards with both Mermis' injury and McMann's ejection, but touched on the latter in more details post-game.
Berube stated:
That's a tough one. It really is. I've got to look at it more closely I'll take a look at it. I don't know, I mean, I had a tough time with that, to be honest with you.
McMann's stick did smack Bjorkstrand in the head, and though it was a tap; that's certainly a 'no-no' in the eyes of the refs, they also have to read the situation. The game was intense all night, with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty already called against Tampa.
What this means for Bobby McMann and Player Safety
McMann didn't swing his stick like a bat, and he didn't outright try and cause harm, which is what Berube seems to take an issue with. It was an accident, and from the looks of the video, McMann lost his balance a bit and his forward momentum brought his stick down, hitting Bjorkstrand.
But don't expect the League to ignore the affairs on Monday night, as they are certainly going to take a look at what went down.
Whether or not they decide to further discipline Goncalves or McMann remains to be seen, but there are a couple scenarios.
Either both men receive a fine from the league, potentially get themselves a one-game suspension, or simply nothing. It's not going to be an extreme sentence, and McMann.
There also could be a hearing for one player and not the other, and the League can't start playing favorites with who they decide to punish. It already feels like the Maple Leafs get the short end of the stick when getting penalties drawn, and any preferential treatment could cause some backlash.
Toronto can't afford to have McMann out for a game as he's been so crucial to their improved third line, and if he's out then it's only fair Goncalves is out too especially since Mermis was injured.
If Player Safety doesn't find a suitable solution to McMann and Goncalves' actions, what does that say about the League's ability to properly assess these potentially dangerous incidents?
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 9 | 1292 ANSWERS NHL Player Safety has real work to do after two questionable incidents in the Leafs-Lightning game Should Bobby McMann receive any additional discipline for his high-stick? | ||
| Yes | 142 | 11 % |
| No | 1150 | 89 % |
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