Superstar winger David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins was shown the door 18:10 into the second period of his team’s Saturday night game against the New York Rangers.
After David Pastrnak punched defenseless Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren, he was given a five-minute major for boarding and game misconduct.
Pastrnak did seem to try to get shoulder to shoulder, as can be seen above, but he still had the opportunity to ease off, and it is his responsibility to do so. This is particularly true now, given that the NHL concluded last weekend with several hits from behind and dubious plays all throughout the league.
The NHL Department of Player Safety will examine this play, as is usual with all plays of this nature, and decide whether Pastrnak should receive any additional penalty. Ironically, on October 28, 2016, Pastrnak was punished for two games for an illegal check to the head of former New York Rangers defenseman Dan, marking his lone suspension since joining the NHL in the 2014–15 regular season.
The physical tone of the game was beginning to pick up when Pastrnak hit Lindgren. Trent Frederic of the Boston Bruins and Jacob Trouba of the Rangers exchanged blows just 7:05 before Pastrnak’s hit on Lindgren. That altercation had been building since Nov. 25, when Trouba struck Frederic in the head with his stick twice during the Bruins’ 7-4 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Early in the first period, Frederic attempted to encourage Trouba to perform the tango, but the Rangers rearguard refused to comply.
To Trouba’s credit, he did so 11:05 into the second period, and while it was hardly a fight, the score was settled. … or so one thought until Pastrnak’s hit on Lindgren just minutes later.
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