Ken Campbell reacts to New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat fighting Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit after a hit on Mat Barzal. Bo Horvat and Simon Benoit [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0MTYwNjA3OTE2NjY0NzE3/usatsi_22452903_168400847_lowres.jpg] Bo Horvat and Simon Benoit Once again, so the people in the back can hear it. The NHL Code™ on the ice, whatever that is, makes no sense. We saw that on full display Monday night in Toronto when Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit lined Mat Barzal of the New York Islanders along the boards for what would have been a clean hit. Now, had Benoit made contact, he would have had to “answer the bell” and fight an Islanders player, even if the hit was clean. Makes a ton of sense, right? Well, here’s the thing. Benoit barely made contact with Barzal, grazing him at best. So now players who even try to hit star players have to fight? In this case, it was Bo Horvat, who just happens to be one of the Islanders' best players. And by picking a fight with Benoit, he earned an unsportsmanlike penalty and ended an Islanders power play. The Maple Leafs scored on the ensuing 4-on-4. All we ever seem to hear is that the NHL has gone soft and that there’s not enough physicality. Well, if you want more physicality, perhaps it’s time to stop going after players who are guilty of nothing more than throwing a bodycheck. Ken Campbell reacts to New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat fighting Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit after a hit on Mat Barzal.
