During Tuesday night’s game (December 9) between the New York Islanders and the Minnesota Wild, Marco Scandella received a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head of Islanders’ forward Brock Nelson. The hit came late in the game, with just under three minutes left in regulation. The NHL’s disciplinary committee didn’t wait long to hand out sanctions, suspending Scandella for two games without pay. The two games will cost the Wild defenseman a total of $11,021.50, which will be donated to the Player’s Emergency Assistance Fund. The NHL’s disciplinary team put out the following video to explain the reasoning behind the suspension:
Minnesota D Marco Scandella has been suspended 2 games for an illegal check to the head of NYI F Brock Nelson. Video: http://t.co/jHb4cLOO0j
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 11, 2014
The main problem with the hit was the fact that Scandella stood up and delivered a check on a player that was already crouching low. While he had the right of way to make a hockey check on a forward entering the zone with the puck on his stick, Scandella made Nelson’s head the main point of contact. It’s also important to note that although Scandella has no prior history of suspensions, just 10 days earlier in a game against the St. Louis Blues, Scandella made the same type of hit on Blues forward T.J. Oshie. The hit led to the Wild defenseman receiving a fine. This time around, the punishment was more severe.
Nelson remained in the game and was not hurt afterwards, which is a good sign for both him and the New York Islanders. It also plays a part in the suspension being just two games, as the punishment could have been a larger one had Nelson been sidelined with a concussion.
In 24 games this season, the Montreal native has posted 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points with the Wild. Averaging just under 22 minutes per game, Scandella has logged 32 hits and 39 blocked shots while adding 38 penalty minutes. He struggled through the start of December, notching just one assist and a minus-4 rating after three games, but Scandella’s presence on the blue line from a physical aspect will surely be missed over the next two games when the Wild take on the San Jose Sharks and the Arizona Coyotes.
Scandella will be available to play again on December 16 when the Wild visit the Chicago Blackhawks, which will bring an end to their three-game road trip.
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