Senators’ Neil to P.K. Subban: Keep your head up

We have our first controversy of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and none other than P.K. Subban is the catalyst as his two-handed slash on Mark Stone prompted a five minute major and a game misconduct on the Ottawa rookie.

Ottawa Senators enforcer Chris Neil has a message for Montreal Canadiens blueliner P.K. Subban: Keep your head up.

On Friday’s front page of the Ottawa Sun, Neil is quoted as saying, “If [Subban] is skating up the ice with his head down, you finish your check on him. That’s how you get him back.”

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Subban always plays with a target on his back and that target was magnified after he fractured Mark Stone’s wrist with a slash in Game 1. Neil – he of 2,486 total NHL penalty minutes – will take Stone’s place in the lineup Friday if the rookie is unable to go.

Neil sat out Game 1 and hasn’t played since Feb. 14 has he recovered from a broken hand. Although his ice time and stats have dwindled in recent seasons, Neil has more playoff experience than anyone currently in the Sens’ lineup.

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