If the NHL Department of Player Safety made its disciplinary decisions just by how bad a play looked, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Killorn would get a long suspension for his hit on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Paul Ranger. It doesn’t work that way, though.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that Killorn won’t face supplemental discipline for his hit from behind on Ranger during Tampa Bay’s 5-3 win in Toronto Wednesday night. The hit left Ranger laying on the ice before being carted off and taken to the hospital.Â
However, replays seem to indicate that Ranger — who was looking over his shoulder at the forechecking Killorn — appeared to turn just before Killorn delivered what would have been a legal check. At least that has to be the NHL’s thinking on the play.
Killorn received a 5-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. The play happened in the final seconds of the first period, which means Killorn missed two full periods for the play.
Ranger reportedly returned to the arena after a “quick check-up” on Wednesday night, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
See the hit below.
