Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi was fortunate to finish Sunday’s game on the bench. He should’ve been in the locker room.
Philadelphia’s Kevin Hayes entered to zone, pursuing a dump-in. Domi, backskating, jabbed at Hayes with his stick, catching him in the midsection.
Rule 62 covers spearing.
Spearing shall mean stabbing an opponent with the point of the stick blade, whether contact is made or not.
A double-minor penalty will be imposed on a player who spears an opponent and does not make contact.
A major penalty shall be imposed on a player who spears an opponent. Whenever a major penalty is assessed for spearing, a game misconduct penalty must also be imposed.
A match penalty shall be imposed on a player who injures an opponent as a result of a spear.
The call on the ice was slashing on the play.
Here’s how the NHL rulebook defines slashing.
Slashing is the act of a player swinging his stick at an opponent, whether contact is made or not.
Non-aggressive stick contact to the pant or front of the shin pads, should not be penalized as slashing. Any forceful or powerful chop with the stick on an opponent’s body, the opponent’s stick, or on or near the opponent’s hands that, in the judgment of the Referee, is not an attempt to play the puck, shall be penalized as slashing.
A minor penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who slashes an opponent.
No word on whether Player Safety may be taking a second look at the play.
Vancouver’s Micheal Ferland was recently fined $5,000 for spearing an opponent on the bench.
Detroit’s Robby Fabbri was also fined earlier this season for spearing; he similarly only received a minor for slashing during the game.
We’ll wait to hear from Player Safety, but our guess is that a fine is coming for Domi.
