After a thorough review of the play, including a formal disciplinary hearing Monday,Brendan Shanahan, NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations, has decided against any further discipline to Boston forward Milan Lucic for his hit on Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller in Saturday's game at TD Garden.
Shanahan held a hearing with Lucic via conference call because he had specific questions he wanted to ask before making a determination on potential supplemental discipline.
"I had the hearing because I did make an initial assessment of the play as I do with all plays, but I did have some questions for Milan and I wanted to hear directly from him," Shanahan told NHL.com. "They were regarding his intent; at what point did he know there was going to be a collision; and whether or not he felt he had the time to avoid the collision. I was satisfied with his answers."
Shanahan said the minor penalty for charging was the proper call in this case because it follows Rule 42.1, which reads "a goalkeeper is not fair game just because he is outside the goal crease area."
"The minor penalty called on the ice was the correct call," Shanahan said. "And, while it's unfortunate that Miller was hurt I saw nothing egregious about this hit that would elevate it to supplemental discipline."
Lucic was issued a minor penalty for charging when he skated into Miller with 6:48 remaining in the first period of Saturday's game. Both Lucic and Miller were going after a puck, and the collision occurred inside the faceoff circle. Miller stayed in for the remainder of the first period and played all of the second period before being replaced by Jhonas Enroth to start the third period. Miller allowed 3 goals on 10 shots in the second period.
According to the Sabres, Miller suffered a concussion and will not play Monday in Montreal.
7 comments:
So what Shanahan has basically said to the Sabres and Miller is "Suck it up and play the game"! I applaud the decision.
LD
You are advocating "running the goalie".
Not advocating running the goalie. What I am saying is if goalie wants to handle puck outside of crease, you should expect to be hit like any other player. Don't want to get hit, stay in your crease.
Miller was relaxed and not moving towards Lucic. You try to avoid running the goalie . If He was pushed into him, that is different.Miller gives up at least 50-60 lbs PLUS Lucic is skating at a fair clip, without making ZERO attempt to avoid Miller.... Karma has a way of straightening these matters out, like a late season injury to Thomas,Chara and that bonehead Lucic. I am surprized that He is even able to talk.. What an idiot.. Dennis from Regina
I agree scruffy... I played goal for 10 years and I knew if I was going to wander out to play the puck that a collision was possible. Many say the hit was classless, buy I think Miller searching out the media after the game to lay into Milan was the real classless act. Your wearing 6 times as much gear as everyone else... Shut up and play hockey.
I think Lucic took a look at the "retaliation factor" the Sabres possess and figured a minor penalty was all that would come of it
...would be curious if he hit the goalie in Philly, or Ottawa with Konopka or Neil, even Chicago with Carcillo or TB's Steve Downie --they might still be sorting it out with penalties, the police, the militia...
If Miller stays in his crease, we aren't talking about this. Lucic has his head down and when he looks up Miller is there and he hits him. End of story. Buffalo can cry about this one all they want, but its an innocent play.
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