Just need to look at whether this was a hockey play or not. To me a hockey play in this situation is:
1) Puck is near you
2) Pin or check player to get them out of the play/impede players ability to complete a play
3) Puck is no longer near you or gone - hockey play is done.
The first hit/pin to the boards was a hockey play, the shove to the ice was not as the puck was long gone. Pettersson was pinned and likely was not expecting to be slammed to the ice.
Simply put, it was reckless and unnecessary.
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