Department of Player Safety rules on the Engvall/Durzi stick infraction; it's not good news for the Leafs
The NHL's Department of Player Safety has come to a decision on the Pierre Engvall/Sean Durzi exchange during Thursday evening's Kings/Leafs game in Toronto.
During Thursday's game, Engvall and Durzi engaged in the neutral zone as Durzi attempted to play a bouncing puck. Following the play, both players re-engaged and went to cross check each other, with Durzi getting the better of that exchange. What followed was Engvall taking a bit of a swing at Durzi, who had turned his back, with Engvall's stick connecting with the back of Durzi's helmet, sending the young defenseman down to the ice.
Engvall was issued a 5-minute major penalty for "intent to injure" and was tossed from the game. He also had a hearing with the Department of Player Safety on Friday, at which time it was determined that the big Swede would serve a 1-game suspension as a result of his actions. You can hear a breakdown of Player Safety's decision in the link below.
All things considered, this one could have been much worse for Engvall. While Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov got off with a $5,000 fine for a similar offense earlier this season, it was determined that Engvall's high stick was delivered more deliberately. His 1-game suspension falls more in line with Evgeny Kuznetsov's infraction from earlier this year - which also earned him a 1-game suspension.
Given what we've seen recently with the Auston Matthews and Jason Spezza suspensions, for some reason the DoPS seems to judge the Leafs a little more harshly than some other clubs. Engvall should probably count his blessings that it's only one game in this case.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 9 | 571 ANSWERS Department of Player Safety rules on the Engvall/Durzi stick infraction; it's not good news for the Leafs Did the Department of Player Safety get this one right? | ||
| Yes | 251 | 44 % |
| No | 320 | 56 % |
| List of polls | ||
