The Division of Participant Security determined to droop Evgeny Kuznetsov one sport for his excessive stick Monday night time. The Washington Capitals ahead shall be held out of the group’s Thursday night time match towards the Ottawa Senators. As the accompanying video explains:
It is very important word that this isn’t a careless use of the stick. Reasonably, that is an intentional stick swing towards an opponent that makes excessive contact. Whereas we acknowledge Kuznetsov’s assertion that he didn’t imply to hit Burroughs so excessive, gamers are accountable for his or her stick always. What causes this play to rise to the extent of supplementary self-discipline is the purposeful nature of the swing, and the situation the place it lands on the opponent.
When discussing Kuznetsov’s historical past, the video doesn’t embody his suspension for off-ice incidents, as anticipated. Apparently although, it additionally references just one tremendous in his 603-game profession. That’s doubtless final season’s high-sticking infraction towards Noel Acciari and means his earlier tremendous for diving/embellishment was not taken under consideration as a part of his related supplementary self-discipline historical past on this case.
After incomes only a two-minute minor penalty on the play, the Capitals ahead should sit and watch the group’s subsequent sport. With Connor Brown additionally lacking observe with a lower-body damage, Washington may have a really completely different lineup on Thursday night time.
