New York Islanders’ Max Tsyplakov suspended three games for illegal high check on Flyers’ Ryan Poehling
The third game of Tsyplakov's suspension is a rematch between the Flyers and Islanders at UBS Arena.
NEWARK, N.J. — The Flyers will have to wait for their revenge.
On Friday, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced it has suspended New York Islanders forward Max Tsyplakov for three games for his illegal check to the head of Flyers forward Ryan Poehling on Thursday night. The third game of his suspension is a rematch between the Flyers and Islanders at UBS Arena.
The video released by the league said that Tsyplakov “delivered a high, forceful check” on Poehling that made his head the “main point of contact.” It was a hit “where such head contact was avoidable and caused an injury.”
On the penalty kill in the first period, Poehling tracked down the puck in the offensive zone and put a shot on goal from the bottom of the left faceoff circle as he cut toward the net. Immediately after the shot attempt, he was sent flying on a high and hard hit by Tsyplakov, whose shoulder made “direct and forceful contact with Poehling’s head.”
Poehling grabbed his head as he laid on the ice and eventually was helped off by Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton. As the video stated, “the head absorbed the vast majority of the check.” Poehling did not return.
“It is important to note that both elements of an illegal check to the head rule are satisfied on this play,” according to the video.
No penalty was assessed during the game, despite referees Mitch Dunning and Brian Pochmara reviewing it for a major.
» READ MORE: Flyers takeaways: Joel Farabee was ‘seeing red’ as emotions ran high in win over Islanders
Garnet Hathaway, Poehling’s penalty-killing partner and linemate during five-on-five, immediately went after the Russian forward, but he wouldn’t answer the bell. Joel Farabee said postgame he was “seeing red” after the hit and did get called for a slash — it looked more like a tap — on Tsyplakov later in the period.
Laughton got a pretty good cross-check on Tsyplakov in the third period, for which he was called. The Department of Player Safety announced earlier on Friday the Flyers alternate captain was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, for the penalty.
“Emotions were high,” captain Sean Couturier said Thursday night. “Tough loss with Poehls going down there and guys trying to stick up for him; we’ll kill those kind of penalties.”
Coach John Tortorella did not have an update on Poehling on Friday as the team was practicing in New Jersey. But the forward was spotted at the facility.