The cross check was in retaliation to a butt-end delivered by Colton to the midsection of Lafferty. These types of retaliation plays often result in a fine, but the reason I say that this wasn't the announcement I was expecting from Player Safety, it's because this hit has gone unpunished (so far).
Lafferty does play with a bit of an edge, but he is by no means a dirty player. More than anything else, it looked like he was attempting to cross check Colton on the chest, but Colton raising his own arms and stick caused Lafferty's stick to connect a little higher than expected.
POLL | ||
23 AVRIL | 452 ANSWERS The NHL's Department of Player Safety slaps Leafs winger with supplemental discipline for incident on Saturday Was Lafferty's cross check on Lafferty deserving of this fine? | ||
Yes | 148 | 32.7 % |
No, it's just playoff hockey | 304 | 67.3 % |
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