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

Niskanen won’t be suspended for Crosby cross-check

2rT6IT9iWJmv
Crosby head injury

Over the last few hours, there’s been a lot of debate as to whether or not Matt Niskanen would be suspended for his cross-check to Sidney Crosby’s head.

He won’t be.

Niskanen was given a five-minute major plus a game misconduct for the incident, but will escape supplemental discipline for the incident, according to the Washington Post’ Isabelle Khurshudyan.

Crosby left the game and did not return. The Penguins had no update on his condition following the game, and head coach Mike Sullivan declined to comment on the hit itself.

The Caps were much more vocal in their explanations. Bench boss Barry Trotz called it a “hockey play,” while Niskanen insisted he didn’t intend to injure Crosby on the play.

“I’ve seen the replay,” Niskanen said after the game. “In super slow-mo, it looks really bad. I caught him high. He’s coming across trying to score.

“As he’s doing that, he’s getting lower and lower, and when it’s happening that fast, you know, my stick and his head collided. I wasn’t extending trying to hit him in the head. It happened quickly.”