John Scott is hard to miss at 6-8, 259 pounds, and the NHL didn't ignore the lick he laid on fellow tough guy Tim Jackman.
Scott is a repeat offender in the eyes of hockey's disciplinary system with Wednesday's four-game suspension. Reason? Monday's punch to the chin that flattened Jackman resulted in injury to an unsuspecting opponent.
Scott's San Jose Sharks and Jackman's Anaheim Ducks return to action on Saturday. The NHL had no games scheduled on Christmas or Boxing Day.
Interesting side note: Scott was banned two games in October for coming onto the ice to fight Jackman. So was Jackman really that unsuspecting? And was Scott aware his antagonist was present? Makes not difference to the NHL's overseers.
Per norm, the NHL's player safety overloads issued a video to provide evidence to support its punishment. It showed Jackman shoving Scott during a second-period scrum.
That lit the power keg, as Scott flailed back and clocked Jackman with his right hand. Admitting the punch wasn't intentional, the lords of discipline said Scott was responsible for his actions. And correctly so.
Net-front scrums are not unusual, and roughing penalties often occur. This, the league said, was different.
"What causes this to rise to supplemental discipline is the damage it causes and fact that Jackman is not expecting it nor should he be," the league said. "We accept Scott's assertion that he was merely trying to shake off Jackman, and although Jackman's shove initiated the exchange ... Scott's response is neither predictable nor acceptable."
Scott is suspended for the second time in his career. On Oct. 31, 2013, as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, Scott was banished seven games for a head hit on Boston Bruins forward Loui Ericsson.
Scott must forfeit $34,146 of his $700,000 salary, with the money going to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.
Sharks officials had no immediate response. As the San Jose Mercury News noted, GM Doug Wilson was fined for speaking out about a Raffi Torres suspension during the 2013 playoffs.
Ducks officials were evaluating Jackman in fear he might have a concussion. He was down for a minute, went to the trainer's room and didn't return to the game.
There was no penalty called on the play.
“Well, it looked like Scott thought he was coming after him, and he went up to protect,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau told The Orange County Register. “I don’t know if he hit him with the stick or the forearm but got him right in the jaw. When you get the guy in the jaw, bad things usually happen.”