When you hit a player as late as Joel Farabee did on Sunday night, you should expect a call from the NHL Department of Player Safety. The Philadelphia Flyers’ rookie delivered a high hit on Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault several seconds after he had passed the puck away, resulting in the unsuspecting veteran being knocked out of the game. Farabee received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the check, but that is unlikely to be the end of his discipline. The league was quick to announce that Farabee will have a hearing on Monday to discuss the incident.
The hit in question took place midway through the second period of what was a blowout 7- win for Winnipeg (video). Perreault held the puck in the corner behind his own net, eventually making a pass down the boards. As Perreault turned his head to follow the play, Farabee skated toward him from behind the net and delivered a hard shoulder check to the chest, at least two seconds after the pass. The check blindsided Perreault, who was not looking in Farabee’s direction and was not possessing the puck. Perreault had to be helped off the ice and did not return, though head coach Paul Maurice noted after the game that he was moving without assistance and will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
This will be a phone hearing for Farabee, meaning any suspension cannot exceed five games. This is understandable seeing as the 19-year-old first-year pro has hardly had the time to establish a record as a repeat offender with Player Safety. However, a multi-game suspension is still a very real possibility given the timing and obvious intent of the hit, as well as the resulting injury.
