The NHL suspended Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras for 3 games for his hit on Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen this past Sunday. Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wonders whether the suspension will satisfy the Red Wings team:
What bothers Detroit more is that the officials missed the Zegras act in real time. No penalty was called. Detroit, with the NHL’s hottest power play, didn’t get another chance with the man advantage. Officials just didn’t see the play.
Some social media posts wondered whether officials are ever disciplined for missed calls. (Referees are rated throughout the season and those ratings impact playoff assignments)
Officially, Zegras was suspended for interference, meaning it was delivered on a player who was not in possession of the puck. Rasmussen was hit after he had made a pass off the boards.
The league’s Department of Player Safety ruled the Zegras hit was made “outside the window when a check can be legally finished.”
Under the rules, players can finish a check started when the player had the puck. “This is not such a play,” the DOPS video explained.
Continued; given that Zegras was never suspended before, I think that the Wings got the maximum penalty for his illegal hit.
