In the third period of the Buffalo Sabres' 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens, defenseman Tyler Myers was struck in the face by the errant stick of Habs defenseman Chris Campoli. That sent the 6-8 Myers into full-on HULK SMASH mode, with Scott Gomez his target along the end boards:
Myers was given a 2-minute minor for boarding, but the hit caught the attention of the NHL's Dept. of Player Safety. Myers will have a hearing on Tuesday afternoon regarding supplemental discipline for the hit. Buffalo next plays on Wednesday against Colorado.
Myers escaped punishment for a hit on the New Jersey Devils' Dainius Zubrus earlier this season, as the NHL declared that Myers didn't target Zubrus with intent to injure.
The same, we imagine, can't be said here. That second angle shows Myers hitting Gomez square between the shoulders in an effort to demolish him along the glass. Gomez has his back turned. There's no mystery here: It's a straight up high hit from behind by Myers. The only questions are about injury (Gomez played another shift after the hit) and perspective: Is Myers too tall to do anything else but deliver this kind of hit on a boarding penalty?
We're guessing suspension, based on it being a hit that shouldn't have been delivered; what say you?
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