Canadiens defenseman Greg Pateryn won’t face a hearing following a cheap shot hit he administered to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson on Saturday night in Montreal.
No hearing for #canadiens Greg Pateryn. Fact that Tyler Johnson skate got stuck in the ice at the impact made the difference. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) April 10, 2016
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Pateryn did receive a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct, but this simply is not enough of a punishment. Pateryn attempted to injure an unsuspecting Johnson, hitting him well after the whistle, sending him crashing into the boards.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PXg4jV-Ufs]The NHL Player “Safety” ignoramus’ using the fact that Johnson’s skate “stuck” in the ice as the reason for absolving Pateryn from suspension is ignorant and flat out ridiculous. Deciding to not wait and see if injury resulted from the hit goes against the precedence set by the NHL in its past rulings. The extent of any injury Johnson suffered won’t be known until Monday.
Coach Jon Cooper said there was “lots of concern” for Johnson. “If we were in a playoff game, he wouldn’t (have) come back (in). That’s where it’s at.”
An angry Cooper stated, “That kid had a blatant disrespect for (honor and respect). That was egregious what happened and there is no place for it.”
.@TBLightning coach Jon Cooper was furious about the hit that knocked Tyler Johnson out of the game Saturday.https://t.co/vwtNTzJENN
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) April 10, 2016
This was an example of a team with nothing to lose, who already had their tee times set for the summer vs. a team readying itself for another Stanley Cup run. Why the NHL failed to see that is beyond comprehension.
(Photos/Getty Images)
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