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Leafs captain John Tavares criticizes the league over Matthews' suspension

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Ben Hodgson
March 15, 2022  (5:50 PM)
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John Tavares spoke to the media ahead of the Leafs' game against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The first question he was asked was about Auston Matthews and his 2 game suspension.

"Obviously we're disappointed. We don't want him to miss any games or think he should, but it is what it is. We're going to move forward and it's an opportunity for guys to step up and this is a time to play hard and get some results with him out of the lineup."

Clearly Tavares and the Leafs are not happy with Matthews' suspension. George Parros' lack of consistency is frustrating to all NHL players and fans. Nobody knows where the line is. It seems that punishment is doled out arbitrarily and without consideration for precedent. It's this randomness that makes the NHL so difficult to deal with. It also doesn't help that the Department of Player Safety seems to play favourites with certain players and teams.

Unfortunately these words are the strongest we're likely to see on the matter. The NHL does not look kindly on those who speak out against referees or the league itself. Even with his mild tone, Tavares is still at risk for a fine, or at very least a phone call for speaking against the NHL's decision.

Tavares' full availability can be found here.

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Leafs captain John Tavares criticizes the league over Matthews' suspension

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