Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson will serve a brief two-game suspension for a hit from behind on Jason Pominville that transpired Monday. With the first period ticking by and the atmosphere becoming hectic in Buffalo, Hjalmarsson got anxious on the play, pressing Pominville's head into the glass.
Two For Boarding: Blackhawks’ Niklas Hjalmarsson Suspended For Hit On Jason Pominville
A five-minute major and marching orders were the result for the Swede. With a trip to the hospital deemed unnecessary, Pominville was diagnosed with a concussion at HSBC Arena in addition to a nasty cut above his eye. Hjalmarsson isn’t the sort of person who is involved in these types of plays and is new to serving a suspension, which was presumably why he didn’t receive a lengthier lay-off.
While his suspension will be viewed as another failure by the league, especially if Pominville misses a significant period of time, it should be appreciated that some measures taken. After all, Matt Cooke got away with blindsiding Marc Savard last season and the Bruins center is continuing his recovery from that day.
Fittingly, James Wisniewski was also suspended today for making obscene gestures towards Sean Avery. Try to guess how many matches he will miss because of Colin Campbell's astounding logic. The punishment should fit the crime, but it seems as if poking fun at someone is a similar violation to causing a player's withdrawal with the use of a stretcher in the National Hockey League.
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