A 2-GAME SUSPENSION
On this day in 1980, Alexei Ponikarovsky was born. For his birthday present, the NHL gave him a 2 game suspension for the boarding against Josh Bailey late in the third period last night. The hit in question was just that...a question. Was it or wasn't it? Should he have or shouldn't he have? Blah, Blah, Blah. I for one am tired of all the head shot, boarding call, intent to injur arguments. IT'S HOCKEY, PEOPLE!!
Poni got a boarding major penalty (which the Pens nicely killed off) and a game misconduct for the hit. Bailey is apparently done for 4-6 weeks with a fractured face and some cuts. Considering the injuries, I'm kind of surprised their wasn't a bigger suspension but in typical NHL fashion, Poni isn't a repeat offender so he walks. If it was Cooke...he'd have been gone forever. Or at least until July.
The Pens will finish the season without him. In 16 games since coming to the Pens in a trade with Toronto for Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula (who was then dealt to New Jersey), he has 2 goals and 7 assists. He has 50 points total for the year.
Kunitz is still nursing a shoulder so I am expecting the Baby Pens phone to be ringing shortly since Bylsma hates loading the defensive spots.
I was going to post about the awesome night and a recap of the game but I just haven't had the time and I am still sort of speechless. Maybe later.
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