Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
We all loved what we saw from the Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki last night against the New York Islanders.
Suzuki was ejected last night because he refused to get pushed around and because he immediately came to the defense of his teammates.
An ejection can often lead to a fine or even a suspension, but in this case, all indications are that the captain will avoid any further discipline.
Things got heated late in the game between the Montreal Canadiens and Patrick Roy’s Islanders
At the Bell Centre, the tension indeed rose a notch in the third period.
Gradually, the game was slipping away from the visitors and frustration took over.
Mathew Barzal decided to go directly after Nick Suzuki in the corner of the rink.
Seeing number 14 of the Montreal Canadiens in the middle of a scrum is a very rare event, but fans seemed to love it.
Kaiden Guhle immediately reacted as well, coming to support his captain near the boards.
Despite a long shift on the ice, the defenseman eventually dropped the gloves in front of Anders Lee.
Meanwhile, Mathew Barzal kept inviting Nick Suzuki to settle things.
Faced with this provocation, the Canadiens player kept his composure, but he was still ejected.
Without hesitation, the referees indeed sent Nick Suzuki and Mathew Barzal to the locker room.
Nick Suzuki was assessed a 10-minute misconduct during the late-game sequence against the Islanders.
Today, we learn that this decision was purely to prevent any further escalation at the end of the game.
Behind the scenes, information clearly indicates that this case is completely closed.
This morning, Montreal Canadiens fans can breathe easy and be fully reassured.
Logically, the National Hockey League will not issue any suspension or fine for this sequence.
Historically, the Department of Player Safety fully understands the preventive context of an ejection.
For the next game, head coach Martin St-Louis will be able to count on his captain’s presence.
Nick Suzuki acted like a true leader by refusing to lose control in front of Mathew Barzal.
With this loss, the New York Islanders head home with a lot of frustration.
In the end, the Montreal Canadiens organization greatly appreciates the solidarity shown by Kaiden Guhle.
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Nick Suzuki not expected to face NHL discipline after ejection vs. Islanders
Did the referee make the right decision in ejecting Nick Suzuki from the game?