Canadiens' P.K. Subban avoids suspension for slash vs. Senators

Ray Slover

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Canadiens' P.K. Subban avoids suspension for slash vs. Senators image

Critics scoffed when Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said P.K. Subban deserved less than he received in Wednesday's game against the Ottawa Senators.

Turns out, Therrien might be right. NHL disciplinarians on Thursday said Subban will not face supplemental punishment for his slash on Senators forward Mark Stone. UPDATE: Stone has a broken wrist, the Senators said Thursday.

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Subban received a slashing major and game misconduct during the second period of Wednesday opening game of the Stanley Cup playoff series. Montreal won 4-3. Stone returned to the game after treatment.

Here's a problem: The NHL requires referees to make instantious decisions on plays like Subban's, according to James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail, because rules force them to focu on injuries, not action.

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The Sens were not happy, suggesting Subban deserved NHL attention. They also suggested

"I think it's an easy solution: You either suspend him or one of their best players gets slashed and just give us five (minutes)," Senators coach Dave Cameron told reporters.

Cameron later said: "You either suspend him, or one of their best players gets slashed, and they give us 5."

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Some claimed Subban's ejection was excessive, that the slash warranted a double minor at most.

"I agree it was a slashing penalty but I don't agree that it deserved five minutes," Therrien told reporters.

Stone wasn't buying it. He accused Subban of intent to injure.

"He tried targeting me a couple times in the first period off faceoffs," he said. "I think he knew what he was doing."

Word of the NHL's decision by director of player safety Stephane Quintal came first from ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

Ray Slover