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Tage Thompson could receive an NHL suspension after an incident during the game against the Canadiens.The Sabres’ star forward made the exact same move that earned Ridly Greig a suspension.
And several voices are now calling for the league to hand down punishment.
Maxime Truman was among the first to denounce the sequence on social media.
“If Gary Bettman and Bill Daly were serious when they say player safety matters, they would put an end to these stupid plays.”
– Truman
There you have it. The tone is harsh and it is shared by several other hockey analysts.
The Ridly Greig precedent forces the NHL to punish Tage Thompson the same way
Several fans were quick to point out the historical context behind this type of play.
That is exactly the question being asked tonight in Quebec.
If the NHL is consistent in its decisions, a major suspension for Thompson appears to be coming. The two plays are identical.
Greig was suspended. Why wouldn’t Thompson be?
Let’s be honest, this is exactly the kind of situation that tests the credibility of the Department of Player Safety.
The NHL established a precedent with Greig’s suspension. Now, the league has to apply the same ruling to a higher-profile player like Thompson.
Otherwise, it becomes proof that punishments vary depending on a player’s status.
For the Canadiens, this is also an important situation to monitor. A Thompson suspension for Game 3 would completely change the dynamic of the series.
The Sabres’ big center leads Buffalo’s playoff offense with seven points in eight games. Without him, the Sabres would lose their second-best offensive player.
This is exactly the kind of situation that could swing the series in favor of the Canadiens.
Now it remains to be seen whether the NHL will make the difficult decision to punish one of its young stars. Or whether the league will find an excuse to let the play slide this time.
The Department of Player Safety now has a difficult case on its desk.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Tage Thompson could face NHL suspension pressure after repeat of Ridly Greig incident
Do you think Tage Thompson should receive an NHL suspension for his play, just like Ridly Greig did?