Not every high hit in the NHL comes with or deserves supplemental discipline, but that likely won’t stop fans from across the league from lamenting the fact that a Bruins player won’t be punished for a questionable hit.
Boston defenseman Dennis Seidenberg drilled Dallas Stars forward Vernon Fiddler with a big check in the third period of the Stars’ shootout win in Boston on Tuesday night. After taking a closer look at the hit, however, it appears Seidenberg’s shoulder makes contact with Fiddler’s head. Fiddler wasn’t hurt on the play, and Seidenberg wasn’t penalized.
It doesn’t sound like he’ll be penalized by the league, either. NBC’s Pro Hockey Talk blog reached out to the league to see if there would be any sort of hearing for Seidenberg, but the NHL said nothing was planned at this point. As PHT points out, it looks like the adjusted Rule 48 is what will keep Seidenberg from being given supplemental discipline.
Seidenberg appears to go through Fiddler’s body and the follow-through is where he ends up making contact with the head.
See video of the hit below.
