Towards the end of the season, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien received a four-game suspension for a violent cross-check to the back of the neck of New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller. Byfuglien was not a repeat offender, but the ferocity with which he came down on Miller was too much for the NHL to ignore.
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Fast forward to Game 2 of the Vancouver Canucks-Calgary Flames series Friday night. On Chris Higgins’ first period goal to make it 2-0 Vancouver, Flames defenceman Kris Russell can be seen coming down on Nick Bonino in a similar way Byfuglien came down on Miller (video above). Russell certainly cross-checks Bonino to the ice while Bonino is in a vulnerable position, but should he receive supplemental discipline similar to Byfuglien?
Neither Byfuglien nor Russell were penalized on their plays, but what likely works in Russell’s favour is that his infraction occurred in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the league is less likely to make a player sit. So is a fine more likely? Or was Russell’s check just not as dirty as Byfuglien’s?
