According to the official Twitter feed of the Philadelphia Flyers, the NHL has suspended Dan Carcillo two games for his high stick on David Clarkson. Or, as they put it:
Carcillo gets two game suspension for his unintentional high stick on Sunday against New Jersey.
“Unintentional”. I don’t think he exactly wanted to slam his stick into Clarkson’s face, but when you go to cross check a player a couple of times up high, you’re going to be held responsible for what happens with your stick. Of course, Paul Holmgren doesn’t exactly agree:
“I am disappointed in this decision by the league. This was clearly an accidental high stick and I do not believe a match penalty.”
Carcillo immediately apologizing and and looking incredibly guilty while he and Clarkson ‘hugged’ after the check was likely a big factor in the suspension. That, and his prior suspensions as well. But like I said above, the NHL is going to hold players responsible for what they do with their sticks.
Especially you poke another player in the eye with it.
