Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg has been suspended for two games for interference on Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher.
The illegal hit came at 11:17 of the second period of Saturday’s game in Detroit. Lilleberg was given a minor penalty for interference by referees Garrett Rank and Furman South. As there was no major penalty called on the ice, the play was not eligible for video review by the refs.
From the NHL’s Department of Player Safety:
Compher passes the puck to a teammate. Then, after the puck is released, and outside the window where a check may be legally finished, Lilleberg delivers a late, high hit that makes significant contact with Compher’s head. This is interference.
Players who are not in possession of the puck are never eligible to be checked. However, the interference rule provides a brief window where a player who initiates a check while his opponent is in possession of the puck may finish the hit. This is not such a play.
Here, Lilleberg begins his hitting motion after Compher passes the puck and contact is made outside the window where a check may be legally finished. In addition to the lateness, what causes this hit to rise to the level of supplemental discipline is the significant head contact on this play, combined with the force.
“I hope the kid is okay,” said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. “It was a pretty clean hit but it’s a physical game. He kind of brought us into the fight in a game where, like I said, I felt like we were not as engaged as we should have been especially kind of our situation so that was a big part of the game”
Lilleberg forfeits $9,062.50 as a result of the suspension. This is his first NHL disciplinary action; he has not previously been fined nor suspended.
The Red Wings went on to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0. Officials for the game were referees Garrett Rank (#7) and Furman South (#13) with linespersons James Tobias (#61) and Jonathan Deschamps (#80).
