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tvp2003 · 01-31-2021, 01:42 PM

Under the rules, it’s an illegal check to the head if the head is the principal point of contact AND the contact was avoidable. You have to meet both criteria; just because there is head contact doesn’t mean it’s illegal.

Here is the Sammy Blais suspension, which Craig Button referenced. He got two games: https://www.nhl.com/video/blais-susp...0360/c-7240044

That hit is similar to one involving McDavid — he also got two games: https://www.nhl.com/video/mcdavid-su...360/c-66120603

In this case I think Dube connects with Kotkaniemi’s core as much as any head contact. I also agree it may not have been avoidable — Kotkaniemi starts to accelerate away from Tkachuk right before Dube gets there.

01-31-2021, 01:42 PM	#275
tvp2003 Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Exp:	Under the rules, it’s an illegal check to the head if the head is the principal point of contact AND the contact was avoidable. You have to meet both criteria; just because there is head contact doesn’t mean it’s illegal. Here is the Sammy Blais suspension, which Craig Button referenced. He got two games: https://www.nhl.com/video/blais-susp...0360/c-7240044 That hit is similar to one involving McDavid — he also got two games: https://www.nhl.com/video/mcdavid-su...360/c-66120603 In this case I think Dube connects with Kotkaniemi’s core as much as any head contact. I also agree it may not have been avoidable — Kotkaniemi starts to accelerate away from Tkachuk right before Dube gets there.