The NHL’s Department of Public Safety (DoPS) ruled Tuesday afternoon that Penguins defenseman Kris Letang would be suspended one game for his hit in game 3.
Letang’s hit, delivered late in the first period of game 3, sent Johansson to the locker room for the remainder of the period. Johansson would return for the start of the second period, and complete the game.
Letang caught Johansson, unguarded, with a blow to the upper body more than 0.6 second after the puck had left Johansson’s area (NHL’s official rule for a “late” hit).
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety’s explanation video can be found here:
It is interesting to see how the league is using technology to assess “late hits”:
FWIW, Letang on MJ90 was 19 digital frames from release of puck to contact. 30 frames in 1 second. So .63 of a second.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 3, 2016
Anything over. 50 of a second gets a look but other factors come into play. In this case, issue is contact to head, potential launching.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 3, 2016
Johansson did not practice on Tuesday. Coach Trotz was unable to provide much of an update:
Trotz didn’t offer much of an update on Johansson. Said he’s got an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 3, 2016
Tom Wilson was not shy with his opinion of the play:
Tom Wilson: “I’d love to be able to go out there and drop the gloves and grab Letang, but it’s a new age.”
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) May 3, 2016
Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
By Jon Sorensen
Better than nothing, but should have been at least 2…This ruling speaks volumes about fairness of be safety board.
Agreed on both counts.
The replay clearly shows him leaving his feet to make the hit. That makes it much more egregious than Orpik’s hit on Maatta. Yet he gets only one to Orpik’s three. Something ain’t right with this picture…
Do you babies want some whine with your cheese 2 more games and beach time for you cap cryababies. Boo Hoo waa waa
And bellemare gets one game for nearly paralyzing orlov WTF
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