The Columbus Blue Jackets may be down a player going forward in this year’s NHL playoffs. During last night’s Columbus Blue Jackets – Pittsburgh Penguins game 2 playoff match, Columbus forward Matt Calvert crosschecked an unsuspecting Pittsburgh forward Tom Kuhnhackl that should warrant league attention. Below we analyze the situation and past NHL playoff suspensions.
With less than a minute to go in the 4-1 Columbus loss, Calvert skated up to Kuhnhackl from behind and crosschecked him across the back/neck area—breaking his stick in the process—before turning around and shoving him in the face. (Video link). It looked like a deliberate cheap shot to the head area that would concern the Department of Player Safety.
Despite the hit’s optics, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun tweets that he doesn’t think the NHL will suspend Calvert. The Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline corroborates, stating that his sense is that Calvert avoids a suspension. Pierre LeBrun thinks that the Department of Player Safety is concerned that the stick-breaking aspect of the play makes the play seem much worse, given that hockey sticks are prone to break easily.
If Calvert avoids a suspension, it will reiterate the League’s position that playoff games are more important than regular season games. It will also highlight a growing concern that the Department of Player Safety issues punishments haphazardly, and without any real consistency. As Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News points out, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen received three games for a mistimed hit on Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel. The League has always been criticized for its inconsistency in handing out punishments, and if Calvert avoids a suspension that sentiment will only grow. Anything less than a suspension will also reignite the sentiment that the League governs by a different rule book during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Last season the NHL issues four suspensions during the 2015-16 NHL playoffs that directly affected future playoff games. Three suspensions were for one game each, and one was for three games.
The NHL suspended Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Pierre-Edouard Bellemare one game for a hit on Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov (video link). Bellemare hit Orlov from behind a few feet from the boards, causing Orlov to crash headfirst into the boards.
Next, the NHL suspended Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw one game for using a homophobic slur. He directed the slur to an on-ice official while sitting in the penalty box.
The NHL then issued its biggest suspension of that year’s postseason by suspending Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik three games for a late hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta (video link).
Finally, the NHL issued its last suspension to Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, giving him one game for his late hit to the head of Washington Capitals forward Marcus Johansson (video link).
All the issued suspensions involving physical hits involved hits to the head. The NHL did not issue any suspensions for stick infractions. If the NHL was concerned with a play’s optics, it would issue Matt Calvert at least a one-game suspension. However, if the League has a strict standard when it comes to playoff suspensions, do not be surprised if Calvert walks away with just a lighter wallet.
The NHL Dept. of Player Safety is the biggest joke in sports.
Matt Calvert’s actions were literally a criminal act. See McSorely and Bertuzzi. He made a premeditated attack on a player no where near the puck.
Just fire everyone who works in Player Safety, close the doors and stop pretending. OR ELSE do your job.
We can go back to the old way and Tom Sestito can break the little punk’s spine in the next game.
Calvert went out there looking to cause damage. His shift started with him involved in a shoving match with Scott Wilson. Calvert then received a bump from someone and made a beeline for the first black jersey he saw. Uncalled for and is definitely a punishable play.
Ever since PK Subban elbowed Claude Giroux well after the play ended and no discipline came from the Dept of Player Safety I’ve concluded that they are themselves a safety issue. How could Crosby not be penalized for his slash earlier this year or how could Brad Marchand not be facing multiple game suspensions for being a habitual offender