Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk has been fined $5,000 for cross-checking NY Islanders’ Scott Mayfield.
The cross-check – to the back of Mayfield’s head – came 13:05 into the third period of Monday’s Game 2. Mayfield was slow to get off the ice, eventually heading to the bench under his own power. He did return to the game later in the period.
No penalty was called on the play by referees Dan O’Rourke and Gord Dwyer.
Since the fine amounts are capped, perhaps the NHL’s Department of Player Safety should consider revisiting the standard for suspensions. While a general cross-check to the back or arm may justify a fine, perhaps they could consider that the same cross-check delivered to a player’s head or neck result in a one-game suspension. It’d be a start, as far as taking steps to further protect the actual safety of players.
DeBrusk’s fine is the maximum permitted under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
