During the second period of the New York Islanders' 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night, Bo Horvat took a nasty cross-check from superstar Leon Draisaitl. He was fined for his actions, but does the punishment fit the crime?
VANCOUVER, BC -- During the second period of the New York Islanders' 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night, Bo Horvat took a nasty cross-check from superstar Leon Draisaitl.
It was a play that occurred along the half-wall in the Islanders zone, as Horvat was waiting along the boards to help break the puck out.
Once the puck did come to Horvat's stick, he quickly chipped it back from where it came before Draisaitl, with clear intent, decided to make a dirty decision.
The point of contact was the back of Horvat's legs, sending him to the ground:
Draisaitl received a tripping penalty -- could have been called cross-checking or interference -- and was lucky not to get anything more at the moment for a player that certainly could have been deemed as an attempt to injure the Islanders forward.
Thankfully for the Islanders, Horvat did not suffer an injury on the play and got back up like every other hit. On Tuesday, the NHL Department of Player Safety fined Draisaitl $5,000 for his actions, the maximum fine allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“I couldn’t believe it," Horvat said. "I mean, honestly, I didn't think he did it like that. I thought he kind of pushed the back of my legs. I didn't realize he full-on cross-checked me. I’m not gonna lie. It looked pretty dirty.
"It definitely wasn't a clean play. I don't know if he was just mad because I hit him a couple of times or whatever, but he definitely shouldn't be doing that to the back of guys' knees like that. I mean, it's how you get hurt. Luckily I didn't."
The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.