Suspend him or not: Bobby Farnham levels Dmitrij Jaskin with high hit

Bobby Farnham was fined for diving five days ago and could now be facing a suspension after a dangerous hit on Dmitrij Jaskin. Farnham was given a major for interference after he levelled an unsuspecting Jaskin with a high hit.

Less than a week after being slapped with a fine for diving, New Jersey Devils winger Bobby Farnham is likely to be facing discipline of another kind. Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues, Farnham levelled an unsuspecting Dmitrij Jaskin with a high hit that left the Blues winger temporarily dazed.

The hit came with less than 10 minutes remaining in the third period and tempers boiled over. Farnham was gang tackled by St. Louis’ Kyle Brodziak and Alex Pietrangelo, Devils agitator Jordin Tootoo dropped the gloves with Blues tough guy Ryan Reaves and every player, save the goaltenders, found someone to exchange a few unpleasantries with:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwZGnmbXpQE[/embed]

When the dust settled, the officials dished out 37 minutes in penalties and the hit was the end of Farnham’s night. He was handed a major penalty for interference and game misconduct. Thankfully for Jaskin, though, he was able to get back on the ice for one last shift in the contest.

Farnham has already made a name for himself this season by walking the fine line between being clean and being reckless, but this hit almost certainly crosses into suspension territory. The hit was reactionary by Farnham — he seemed to take exception to the hit from Kevin Shattenkirk — and came on an unsuspecting Jaskin.

Jaskin makes a pass in order to spark a breakout and turns his head up ice to watch the play develop. Jaskin’s head is turned for close to two seconds before Farnham throws the hit. Making matters worse is that Farnham drives up through Jaskin, causing the Blues winger to have his head snap forward. Luckily, Jaskin’s head didn’t bounce off the ice when he fell to his back.

The league has not yet announced whether or not Farnham will face supplemental discipline, but it seems likely he’ll have a hearing Wednesday. The Devils are back in action Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, and Farnham will know his fate before then.

(Video via Cameron Clark)