You know, just like a hitter has to be responsible for hitting the opponents head, even if the other player is short, I think a player has to take into account the size of the other player on a play like this.
The reality is you can probably get away with more on a guy like Chara than on a guy the size of Gaudreau. If a player gives a cross check to the back of Johnny that sends him flying into the boards, it is still a penalty, even if that same check in Chara wouldn’t have sent him flying.
So I don’t buy that Petterssons size makes it his fault.
The slam down wasn’t horrific or anything, but it was illegal and completely unnecessary, and I’d think a fine or maybe 1 game would be appropriate. The reality is if you do something illegal that results in an injury to a star player, it’s probably going to be looked at very closely.
I felt the same with Johnny getting his hand broken on a ‘routine’ slash....it was illegal, unnecessary, and it injured a star player. It deserved scrutiny.
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