The Department of Player Safety has decided on a two-game suspension for Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk. The reason for the suspension was a dangerous knee on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin, which caused the third period of last night’s game to become a “gong show” according to Auston Matthews. As the accompanying video explains:
It is important to note that Pionk is in control of this play. We acknowledge Pionk’s argument that this is an attempted full body check, but this play cannot be classified as merely a collision between players where one or both move reflexively or defensively at the last moment to avoid contact.
If he wants to deliver this hit, the onus is on Pionk to take an angle of approach that ensures that he is in a good position to make a legal, full body check. Instead, having taken an angle which has him lined up outside of Sandin’s path, Pionk turns his right leg and extends his knee, jutting it forward to avoid missing the check entirely.
Not only is Pionk getting suspended, but Toronto’s Jason Spezza will have an in-person hearing tomorrow to determine what level of supplementary discipline will follow his retaliatory hit on the Jets’ defenseman.
The fact that Pionk’s hit went unpenalized by the on-ice officials, along with the fact that Sandin suffered what appears to be a serious injury on the play, helped make the decision on a two-game suspension. Pionk will miss games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken as he serves his time.
I just find it odd that if the refs missed the call on the ice that they factor that into the length of they suspension. Like really maybe punish the refs for missing the call and just punish the player for the hit and not the refs mistakes.
@bbgarnett – “…maybe punish the refs for missing the call …” – Hallelujah, brother! Unfortunately, that would mean grabbing officials from other leagues, since most NHL refs would have to be suspended, themselves. Oh, well, like the old saying goes, “You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.”
The reffing and suspension issues have always been bad in the nhl but right now seems to be 10x worse then normal and is definitely impacting the game in a very negative way. Bettman and Daily need to go so someone new can come in and make a significant impact on how the game is officiated. The whole fairness thing is so dumb what’s the point of penalizing a team at all if the whole goal is to make it even regardless of a team absolutely bullying another and getting away with it cause the refs are mandate against “impacting the game” which makes things soo much worse
If Pionk did something wrong – and they did suspend him, so it seems like they felt he did something wrong – then the thing he did wrong was egregious in the vein of Samuelsson-on-Neely and caused serious injury, and he should be gone for a long time. If he did nothing wrong in their view, then he shouldn’t be suspended at all. Two games is basically the perfectly wrong answer to this question.
Don’t worry spezza will get over 5
Spezza deserves a lot for what he did, IMO. But the league should probably ask itself what role it played in causing the happiest-go-lucky guy in hockey to attempt to decapitate somebody.
Spedda deserves a steak dinner and a C on his sweater. Not only were the officials a joke on that play but Dops ass swell. 3 games for intentional knee on knee. Gotta be out as long as the injured player. These slap on the wrists to dishonest p.o.s is what requires plays like Spezza. Only problem i had with how Toronto responded is they shouldda got Simmonds on their star talent. Same with Cliff. Make em really regret playing dirty
Horrid officiating. NHL should be ashamed that they employ these referees. You’d have to be blind not to see and call that Pionk knee on Sandin.
The fact that Pionk’s hit went unpenalized by the on-ice officials should have ZERO effect on the suspension that follows! A suspension-worthy play is always worthy of a suspension regardless of the call or non-call by on-ice officials! Spezza’s hit was premeditated, dangerous, & intended to injure! Although he is not considered a dirty player, that was a dirty play – a VERY dirty play – 5 games minimum!!!