NHL Player Safety makes its decision on Nikita Zadorov after hit on Auston Matthews
Photo credit: Imagn Images
As the 5pm deadline has passed, the NHL Department of Player Safety has officially given a ruling regarding Nikita Zadorov's hit on Toronto's Auston Matthews during Tuesday night's game in Boston.
In the early minutes of the second period in Tuesday night's game between Toronto and Boston, Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov shouldered Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews into the boards, leading to Matthews leaving the game shortly thereafter.
How the League's Decision Shapes the Aftermath for Toronto
The NHL Player Safety Department has the ability to discipline Zadorov, and given the nature of the contact and Matthews leaving the game, the play had the elements that often prompt a review.
The league has officially declared that Zadorov's hit was legal and didn't warrant any additional discipline.
The decision sets a reference point for how similar plays may be evaluated, even if some elements of the hit raised questions among fans and analysts.
The length of Matthews' injury, nor the extent of bad the injury is will be unknown until he gets a full evaluation.
This is now the second time in three days a Leafs player has been injured on a Zadorov hit, which naturally draws attention to his physical style.
Especially with Craig Berube's comments regarding Scott Laughton's injury:
I thought it was a head shot. I gotta take a closer look at it.
The team is going to be without Matthews, Laughton and potentially Anthony Stolarz, in addition to having Chris Tanev on the shelf. It's a start that no team wants at the beginning of the season, but there's still 60+ games to turn things around.
As of now, Matthews' availability for Thursday remains uncertain and will depend on further evaluation.
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