NHL DoPS Lays the Hammer on Islanders Forward Maxim Tsyplakov for Questionable Hit
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced today that Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov has been suspended.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety (DoPS) announced this morning that Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov would have a hearing for his hit on Flyers forward Ryan Poehling yesterday.
Of course, this is yet another instance of the NHL contradicting itself.
When the play occurred during the game, the on-ice officials elected to review it, looking to see if it should have been a major penalty.
They decided that it was not a penalty at all, infuriating Flyers fans, and fans across the league in general.
The officials and the DoPS have access to the same replays so it makes no sense whatsoever that there was no penalty on the play.
This is especially true now that we know that Tsyplakov will be suspended for three games as a result of the hit.
In what world is a suspension-worthy hit not also worthy of a major and match penalty in the game in which it occurred?
Needless to say, fans are growing increasingly frustrated with these inconsistencies.
Many are pointing the finger at the referees, who should face some accountability for getting these things wrong.
Clearly, the NHL does not have strict internal guidelines as to what is and is not legal, especially when the play involves head contact.
Hopefully, the league will eventually learn from these incidents and finally implement more stringent policies to ensure consistency.
At the very least, they should make the process more transparent by making the referees speak to the media after the game.
As long as Gary Bettman remains commissioner of the league though, these changes may never come.
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4 HOURS AGO | 18 ANSWERS NHL DoPS Lays the Hammer on Islanders Forward Maxim Tsyplakov for Questionable Hit Do you agree with the Department of Player Safety's ruling on this hit by Maxim Tsyplakov on Ryan Poehling | ||
