The NHL pre-season has finally come to an end… but not without one more fine from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov has been fined $5000 for charging New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck.
The play came just 1:12 into the third period of Saturday’s game — the final preseason match for both clubs. Romanov left his feet on the hit, delivering a high, hard check on Trocheck.
Romanov was given a minor penalty for charging by referees Kevin Pollock and Peter MacDougall. Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey picked up a retaliatory roughing minor, putting the teams at 4-on-4.
Charging is covered in Rule 42:
A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player who skates, jumps into or charges an opponent in any manner. Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A “charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal frame or in open ice.
The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a minor [or major] penalty, based on the degree of violence of the check, to a player guilty of charging an opponent. […] A match penalty [may be assessed] if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent by charging.
When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for a foul resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent, a game misconduct shall be imposed.
There was no injury on the play, but certainly a debatable degree of violence on the check. The officials felt a minor penalty was sufficient. Player Safety opted to levy a bit more.
Note that the officials do not have the ability to review this play, since it was initially called as a minor penalty. Only a major or match penalty call would be eligible for review. The league has stressed that the intent is for officials to call what they see on the ice and not ‘rule by review’ or rely on video replays to get it right after the fact.
The Islanders went on to win the game 3-1. Referees were Kevin Pollock (#33) and Peter MacDougall (#38); linesmen were Julien Fournier (#56) and Ryan Jackson (#84).
