Matt Grzelcyk deserves some of the blame, according to the NHL.
The Boston Bruins defenseman was knocked out of Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets after being rammed against the boards by Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey, who was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding. But the NHL’s Department of Player Safety won’t hand Morrison any supplemental discipline, NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty reported Wednesday.
Here’s the NHL’s logic for the decision — or lack thereof.
No further discipline expected for Josh Morrissey boarding hit on Matt Grzelcyk from Bruins/Jets. Belief is that Grzelcyk made a quick turn to face the boards shortly before contact & put himself in a vulnerable position "immediately prior or simultaneously with the check"
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) March 28, 2018
After the Bruins lost 5-4 in a shootout, head coach Bruce Cassidy provided an update on Grzelcyk.
Per Bruce Cassidy, Matt Grzelcyk has an upper-body injury and will be evaluated back in Boston.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 28, 2018
Let’s hope the injury isn’t serious and that Grzelcyk makes a quick, full recovery.
The rookie blueliner has been one of Boston’s most productive players on defense, especially since Charlie McAvoy and Zdeno Chara went down with injuries. And although the banged-up B’s are starting to get healthier, they can ill-afford to lose any more players before the Stanley Cup playoffs.
