Two incidents took place during Wednesday night’s tilt between the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals, neither resulting in a suspension.

 

Morrissey Fined for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey avoided suspension for a hit on Washington’s TJ Oshie, but was dinged in the wallet.

The Jets blueliner was fined $8,467.74 for unsportsmanlike conduct during Friday night’s game against the Capitals in Winnipeg.  Morrissey’s fine is the maximum permitted under the CBA, which caps fines at 50% of a player’s daily salary and mandates that fines not exceed $10,000 for a first offense and $15,000 for a second offense within a 12-month period.

Morrissey slammed Oshie to the ice in a pro-wrestling-style move at 18:35 of the third period.  No penalty was called on the play.

 

 

“It’s something I think the league is going to look at,” said Capitals coach Todd Reirden. “It’s similar to a situation that happened in Vancouver earlier in the year — a vulnerable player that’s thrown to the ice. … We’ll see and check in on T.J. I have not talked to our trainer tonight since the end of the game, so I’m not sure exactly where things stand with him.”

Oshie does have a history of concussions, having admitted to suffering four during his NHL career.

 

Tanev Penalized for Illegal Check to the Head; No Further Discipline from Player Safety

Winnipeg’s Brandon Tanev was sent off with a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head by referees Francis Charron and Kyle Rehman. No further discipline was handed out on the play.

 

 

Kuznetsov remained on his feet, but was holding his head as the whistle stopped play. He attempted one more shift before leaving the ice and did not return to the game.  There’s no word on his status.

The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan reported on the league’s decision not to take additional action against Tanev:

“[The NHL’s] Department of Player Safety determined that Kuznetsov materially changed the position of his body or head immediately before or simultaneously with the hit in a way that significantly contributed to the head contact, and there was also a lack of force that didn’t elevate the hit to suspension-worthy.”

Kuznetsov does appear to turn to his right, directly into Tanev’s path, just prior to delivery of what would have been a legal body check if not for the head contact.