Sidney Crosby injury: Matt Niskanen won’t face discipline

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen will not face further discipline after cross-checking and injuring Sidney Crosby on Monday. 

Game 3 between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins was a heck of a game. The Caps won a thrilling game in overtime 3-2. However, that wasn’t what all the buzz was about after the game. During the first period, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby got cross-checked in the head by Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen. The latter was immediately ejected from the game, making him eligible for supplemental discipline. However, Niskanen will not be facing any.

The Department of Player Safety made the right decision in this case. They rarely do, but for once, they did. It would have been justifiable to suspend Niskanen considering he injured the league’s top star. However, they determined his punishment justified what he did. Niskanen didn’t target Crosby with malicious intent, he was interfering with someone who had a prime scoring chance. Was it a minor for cross checking? Absolutely. But let’s be honest, if anyone other than Crosby gets hit like that, Niskanen wouldn’t have been ejected.

However, the refs were still right to eject him. They’ve done a terrible job in the past of protecting their stars. The only player to ever face a suspension for what they did to Crosby? Brandon Dubinsky, who got one game for cheap shotting Sid The Kid in the back of the head. It’s about time the NHL refs start looking out for their stars. Every other league does it. Whether it’s fair or not, players like Crosby are important to the NHL’s success. You have to discipline people who foul them.

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Crosby has a history of concussions, so hits to his head ought to be punished, whether they are deliberate or not. Hopefully Sid The Kid gets healthy and is back on the ice soon because hockey is much better when he’s healthy.