NHL Suspends Mark Fistric Three Games

[Thrillhouse]

NEW YORK – Dallas Stars defenseman Mark Fistric has been suspended, without pay, for three games for charging New York Islanders forward Nino Niederreiter during NHL Game #381 in Dallas on Saturday, Dec. 3, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Fistric will forfeit $16,216.23. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 6:08 of the first period. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Fistric will miss games Dec. 8 at San Jose, Dec. 10 at Los Angeles and Dec. 13 at the New York Rangers. He will be eligible to return Dec. 15 at the New York Islanders.

[farcyde21]

Funny that the NHL defines "Charging" by using the word "charge". Definition Fail 101.

[Leafsnation420]

****in joke, soon they will let 16 year olds play. The days of watching people pick their smashed teeth out of their mouths and get back out for the next shift are over. Shanny, **** you.

Sucks the guy has a concussion though, hope it wasn't to help get the suspension.

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

I thought the hit was borderline... but in today’s NHL thats considered dirty

[BobNystromOwnsU]

Originally Posted by OLLBLUEEYZ

I thought the hit was borderline... but in today’s NHL thats considered dirty

I don't think it was dirty. A mistake, but not dirty. I never got the impression he was trying to kill Nino.

[Isles4life]

It may not have been Fistric's intent to try to decapitate Niederreiter, but he clearly leaves his feet to deliver the check, which has always has been a penalizable offense for charging. He also made direct impact with the head, which in the current NHL is a big no-no.

I had said in the thread about the hearing that prior to this season I don't think this should have been a suspension. But given that this year they've already suspended guys for cleaner hits in my opinion (Clarke MacArthur is always my stock example), a "headshot" that results from a check that has always been illegal (a charge) should be suspendable by the current standards. They've also been factoring injury on the play (Niederreiter was concussed) and past disciplinary history into decisions. I was thinking 2 games would be a fair number, but I guess due to the injury and Fistric having a previous, albeit brief, record of subsequent discipline, it earned him an extra game off.

Here's the Shanahan video for anyone interested:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/con...d=60&id=140502

[IhateLindros]

I think I was more pissed this clown didn't get a penalty for that. WTF was the ref looking at? Unfortunately that has become all too common these days.

And to be fair, he really didn't get suspended because of a headshot or leaving his feet, it was more of (using Shanny's words) "uplifting check" that "vaulted" him off the ice. Still deserved a suspension IMO.

[shaud19]

Originally Posted by IhateLindros

I think I was more pissed this clown didn't get a penalty for that. WTF was the ref looking at? Unfortunately that has become all too common these days.

And to be fair, he really didn't get suspended because of a headshot or leaving his feet, it was more of (using Shanny's words) "uplifting check" that "vaulted" him off the ice. Still deserved a suspension IMO.

I agree. The refs blow easy penalty calls and then something obvious happnens and they miss it.

3 games is fair.

[havoc00]

LOL @ that being a suspension, that was a great step up. What a joke, I guess you don't have to skate with your head up anymore

[Leafs_Fan18]

While leaving your feet is dangerous, the forearm targeting the head did the damage. There was a shoulder to shoulder hit in yesterday's game where one player left his feet with no concussions. Both guys skated away just fine.

[brymaster1]

The only reason he was suspended was because it lead to a concussion. Still don't see how the Sean Bergenheim hit which was shoulder to the jaw wasn't even a fine and yet guys are getting suspended for other hits that lead to concussions

[canuckfan]

If his feet stay on the ice Fistric probably gets away scott free. But because they didn't, it looks like he launched himself upwards and with principle contact being the head, they'll throw the book at you every time. No surprise at all to see Fistric sitting out a few for that.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - why players now seem to feel the need to launch or drive shoulders upwards towards the head is just beyond me. Its like some of these guys need to go back to school or something - probably because the vast majority have the IQ of a moldy potato...

[Oil Can Henry]

...another example of the NHL's attempt at "cleaning-up" the sport through "unwarranted" suspensions and fines. ALL hitting, checking and ANY physical-play will most definately be ELIMINATED, soon enough.
I'm all for taking measures against blatant, dangerous play - but, the League ( and Brendan Shanahan in-particular ) has gone WAY, WAY overboard in determining what is JUSTIFIED.
Seems strange the NHLPA hasn't really weighed-in on this situation,....or does it???,....

[hochey08]

this is really pissing me off. a guy comes down the ice with his head down, and it seems like you cant hit him anymore. i get he left his feet a tiny bit, but 3 game is ridiculous, shanahan is ruining the nhl

[Big Violence]

Definitely a charge, but 3 games for this? They might as well ban hitting and let women play in the NHL.