Toss The Rulebook

The fallout from the game between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning was imposed today by the NHL, and I have to say that I'm shocked. It's not because of the fines or the suspensions that were given to either side, but it's because there was a significant suspension not given for what was a clear rule violation on Saturday night. I get that the NHL wasn't thrilled with the in-state rivals played the game on Saturday, specifically singling out one team for the roster that was dressed, but to ignore an obvious suspension for what went down on that evening seems absolutely baffling. However, I neither work for nor advise the NHL's Department of Player Safety on they should go about their business, so what I think at this point is moot despite the rule being as clear as day. Let's get into this ruling.

The NHL announced today that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Scott Sabourin and Lightning defenceman JJ Moser would both be suspended with Sabourin getting a four-game break while Moser will be forced to sit for two games. Sabourin played all of 19 seconds on Saturday before being given a match penalty for his aggressive hit on Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad, and Moser was given a game misconduct after committing a boarding major on Jesper Boqvist.

Dangerous plays should warrant stiff punishments, so I have no issue with the NHL sending a message that the type of plays employed by both Sabourin and Moser were unacceptable. As a result of their indiscretions, Sabourin will forfeit $16,145.84 while Moser will give up $35,156.26 to the NHL for the amount of time for which they're suspended. If one does dumb things, one loses a chunk of money.

The NHL also sent a strong message to the Tampa Bay Lightning and to head coach Jon Cooper after the Lightning recalled six players from Syracuse prior to the game. Five of the six players in the game received penalties of ten minutes or longer, and those six totalled 77 penalty minutes in the game. As a result, the Lightning were fined $100,000 and Cooper took a $25,000 hit to the wallet for the roster that was iced on Saturday. Again, do dumb things, lose money.

In total, the back-to-back games between the Panthers and Lightning on Friday and Saturday saw a total of 114 penalties called, resulting in 498 penalty minutes. Talk all you want about rivalries, but those numbers are ridiculous and the NHL wasn't having any of it.

And that brings us to Niko Mikkola who came back to the bench and back on the ice on Saturday after being assessed a game misconduct. As I wrote in the linked article, the NHL Rulebook is very clear about players who return to the bench or ice after being sent to the dressing room in Rule 70-10 and the punishment for breaking said rule should any player violate it. Florida's Niko Mikkola broke that rule.

Somehow, the NHL's announcement today saw the Florida Panthers and Niko Mikkola escape all punishment despite Mikkola breaking Rule 70-10! I am baffled how this can happen, but it appears that the NHL believes there was a miscommunication between the officials and the Florida Panthers' bench over the penalties that were handed out at the 4:01 mark of the third period which is hard to believe when you see this clip of the penalty announcements by referee Jean Hebert.

It was clear that the Tampa Bay players heard the announcement as Bjorkstrand went down the tunnel, but the Panthers and Mikkola both missed Hebert calling his number for the game misconduct? That is hard to believe, but it seems the NHL is going with that justification.

I've been wrong before, I'll definitely be wrong again, but I'm struggling how I got this one wrong when it's so obvious that Mikkola should be suspended for returning to the ice. Whatever the reasons are for the NHL not enforcing this rule are up to the league's brass, but it's inexplicable to me how Mikkola avoided a suspension. I guess that's why I'm not part of the Department of Player Safety.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!