After a hearing earlier today, St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist has been suspended one game for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk in Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final. The decision was handed down from the NHL Department of Player Safety this evening. A high hit from behind in the first period injured Grzelcyk and he did not return to the game, tilting the ice in St. Louis’ favor as Boston played two-thirds of the game with just five defenders. The Bruins will try to take advantage of karma swinging back in their direction, as the Blues will be without a key checking forward in Game Three.
Player Safety, which had top officials George Parros and Damian Echevarrieta on hand for Game Two, met with Sundqvist this afternoon and took a fair amount of time to make their decision. At the end of the day, the league could not ignore a hit to between the numbers on a defenseless player, even if Sundqvist was not intentionally trying to check Grzelcyk from behind as he played the puck behind his own net:
Sundqvist adjusts his force, then hits (Grzelcyk) forcefully from behind with speed, driving him violently into the glass and causing an injury. This is boarding. It is important to note that the boarding rule places the onus to deliver a legal check on the hitter. Therefore, while we acknowledge that Grzelcyk does adjust his body position in making a play on the puck, he does not do so in a way that absolves Sundqvist of responsibility for the nature of this hit. From the moment Sundqvist hits the bottom of the face-off circle until contact is made, Sundqvist sees nothing but Grzelcyk’s numbers. This is not a situation in which a sudden and unexpected movement by the player receiving the check turns a legal hit into an illegal one at the last moment… Sundqvist has time to react to Grzelcyk’s movements and reacts by cutting back across Grzelcyk’s body. This movement results in a more forceful and direct hit to Grzelcyk’s upper back and head, which then drives Grzelcyk’s head into the glass… Sundqvist chooses to finish his check into his opponent’s back with force. Sundqvist had sufficient time to minimize the force of this hit, avoid the hit entirely, or adjust his course to deliver a legal check.
This is not only the expected result on the play, but also a fair punishment and well-adjudicated by Player Safety. Sundqvist’s lack of any history of supplemental discipline and the fact that playoff games, Stanley Cup games in particular, are worth more than regular season games may have convinced some that he would avoid a suspension. However, the fact that Grzelcyk was hurt on a play that Sundqvist could have avoided in a game that was chippy and physical from the start hurt his case. So too did the fact that officials gave Sundqvist only a minor on a check that should have been deserving of a match penalty and could have evened the odds for the short-handed Bruins. Instead, Sundqvist will now sit for Game Three.
There is no word yet on when Grzelcyk is expected to return to the Boston lineup, but it won’t be for Game Three. NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin reports that Grzelcyk is considered day-to-day and has entered the league’s concussion protocol. He did not travel with the team to St. Louis and will miss Game Three, but that does not rule out him re-joining Boston for Game Four or later in the series, which will go at least five games and likely longer. In the meantime, John Moore is likely to draw in for Grzelcyk on Saturday night in St. Louis.
Just total crap. Department of Player Safety a complete joke from one day to the next.
He should’ve been tossed from the game, I’m not sure what game you were watching but no place in the game for that
Homer. I’ve seen Marchand do worse. Get over the loss.
And Krug got nothing for steamrolling Thomas in game one. He was out to hurt someone.
Definitely deserved, it was as bad as McAvoy’s hit vs Columbus and had much worse consequences for the player involved.
If you go by that logic, Krug should have been tossed from Game 1 as well.
tominco I think you should get your eyes checked that hit was clean on Thomas . Are we really getting that soft if so go watch European or ice capades bud! I’m saying that as a fan of Thomas since his London Knights days. It’s playoffs they all are out to hurt someone and win a cup. Hence last team standing!
Wonder what Marchand will be able to get away with this round.
A lick? Spit? Elbow to the jaw that was deemed fair?
Any Bruin fan complaint should keep their mouth shut. The Bruins owe the league a dozen of these
JMC at least if your gonna bash the Red Sox spell Jon’s name correct do your homework bud!
I personally thought both Krug’s and Sundqvist’s hits were OK – neither player deserved a suspension. However, if you are going to suspend one, you need to suspend both. Both the on-ice officiating as well as follow-up suspensions have been absolutely dreadful. No consistency at all. NHL needs to fix that ASAP
you are an idiot
Hahaha we deserved to lose, our forwards, starting with that top line with Marchand, stunk. And Marchand gets suspended regularly for what he does. And to everyone complaining about Krug, exactly what was illegal? Thomas looked up and saw the hit coming. Didn’t hear Bruins fans complain earlier these playoffs when similar happened to Johansson. Grow up
Krug’s hit was, per NHL rule 607, the definition of charging. 2+ strides with the intent to punish his opponent, and because of how far he skated to do it. At minimum it’s a minor, not a non call
Not sure what game your watch, have no skin in the game, it was a clean hit on a player who did not adjust for the hit. His fault not Sundqvist.
Jlm that is not a charge. it’s not charging when you glide with no steps for like 10 feet.