Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban played just nine minutes on Wednesday night but managed to pack an awful lot of action in to them.
With the Canadiens trailing midway through the second period thanks to Andrei Markov's own goal, Subban assisted on two goals just 15 seconds apart to put his team in front.
Then, less than a minute later, his night came to a sudden end when he was ejected from the game for slashing Senators rookie -- and emerging Calder Trophy front runner -- Mark Stone on this play.
He was also given a five-minute major penalty.
Heavy slash by Subban pic.twitter.com/o6e3XgAuML
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) April 16, 2015
Stone was shaken up on the play but the Senators announced almost immediately that he would be returning to the game.
Now, as for the call. The fact it was a five-minute major and a game misconduct was pretty controversial. It shouldn't be, because it is exactly what the rule book calls for given the circumstances.
According to Rule 61, a major penalty must be issued when an injury occurs as the result of slash, and once the major penalty is issued, a game misconduct becomes mandatory.
From the NHL rule book:
61.3 Major Penalty - A major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who slashes an opponent. When injury occurs, a major penalty must be assessed under this rule (see 61.5)
And...
61.5 Game Misconduct Penalty – Whenever a major penalty is assessed for slashing, a game misconduct penalty must also be imposed.
Subban and the Canadiens didn't like it, but even before you get into a discussion about the severity of the slash it still wasn't the smartest play given that Montreal had just come back to take the lead and was already shorthanded at the time, giving the Senators an extended two-man advantage. The Senators would tie the game on that power play and continue what would be a wild second period that featured the ejection and six goals between the two teams. Montreal held a 4-3 lead when all was said and done.
As for Subban, TV cameras did manage to catch his reaction when he found out that Stone was already back on the ice. He was not happy.
(Via @jaygold85)
