One week after New Jersey Devils forward Joseph Blandisi was called for one of the most obvious cases of diving this season, he’s done it again.
Blandisi earned himself two minutes for embellishment Tuesday night when he attempted to sell a hit from New York Rangers defenceman Dylan McIlrath. McIlrath received a roughing penalty on the play. (Watch the play at the top of this post.)
With two similar infractions in the span of seven games, this is dangerous territory for the rookie — referees will be watching closely for this from him, not to mention the league.
Blandisi was issued a minor embellishment penalty against the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 16 after what looked like a harmless slash from Andrew MacDonald.
“I never got swung at like that before, but I guess I could’ve done something to avoid that penalty,” Blandisi, 21, told reporters later that night. “I guess maybe I wanted to make sure the ref saw it and I took it too far.”
He even took it to Twitter, issuing an apology to his followers:
Blandisi has five goals and seven assists in 21 games with the Devils.