Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Matt Carkner will miss a game for fighting Brian Boyle

Matt Carkner, Brian Boyle

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 14: Matt Carkner #39 of the Ottawa Senators and Brian Boyle #22 of the New York Rangers are at the bottom of the pile in this first period battle in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 14, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Just moments ago, the New York Rangers lost valuable winger Carl Hagelin for three games - the most severe suspension of the 2012 season - for elbowing Daniel Alfredsson. With that in mind, Rangers fans might not be especially happy that Ottawa Senators tough guy Matt Carkner received a single game suspension for beating the daylights out of Brian Boyle.

(Slow motion doesn’t do Carkner many favors, does it?)

I’ll be honest; I’m not totally sure that the NHL’s developing an intelligible pattern with its disciplinary decisions. Does this punishment seem fair to you? Did Carkner deserve more games, no suspension or was this A-OK? How about if you look at it without thinking about Hagelin’s punishment, if possible? Share your observations in the comments.