When Matt Calvert decided to crosscheck Tom Kuhnhackl across the back last night, he put himself at risk of a suspension according to many around the game. When he then knocked down the defenseless Kuhnhackl seconds later, he may have crossed the line entirely. That’s what many are saying today, though there has yet to be a word from the Department of Player Safety. A suspension would definitely be a strong message, as playoff games are usually considered twice as valuable as regular season contests.
Last year, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Andrew Shaw, Brayden Schenn, Brooks Orpik and Kris Letang all received bans during the postseason (though Schenn served his the next season). We’ll see if Calvert gets any discipline, or if the Penguins have to take it into their own hands next game. For what it’s worth, Pierre LeBrun of ESPN gets the feeling that he’ll avoid missing any games and just receive a suspension.
- Nikita Zaitsev was back on the ice before the Maple Leafs’ morning skate according to Kristen Shilton of TSN, his first time skating since his upper-body injury in the last game of the regular season. The young Russian defender is an important part of the Maple Leafs blue line, and would be welcomed back for game 3 should he be medically cleared. For now, the team won’t change their defense group from the first game; Martin Marincin stays in, while Matt Hunwick remains paired with Morgan Rielly.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have called up both Anton Forsberg and Sonny Milano while sending Oscar Dansk back to the Cleveland Monsters. Down 2-0 in their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Blue Jackets have to find a way to insert some more offense into their lineup and perhaps Milano is the answer. It also could easily be a precautionary action for any incoming Calvert discipline. The Monsters ended their season yesterday, but will have to wait to see whether they make the playoffs. Should the Charlotte Checkers lose their final game in regulation today against the Chicago Wolves, the Monsters would make it. Otherwise, Milano and Forsberg will likely remain with the team and be joined by other AHLers.