Updated:
NHL Department of Player Safety has scheduled a hearing with Tampa defenseman Erik Cernak
Throw every book in the library at Cernak https://t.co/Mr7WSb5MZ2
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 26, 2019
The Sabres are looking for a maximum term suspension for Cernak who deliberately targeted the head of an opponent causing a brain injury. If the hearing is in person, Cernak is facing a five plus game suspension while a phone hearing can get Cernak up to a five game ban.
There is no place in the NHL for the type of dangerous, disrespectful, scumbag hit Cernak delivered to Dahlin’s head.
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Rasmus Dahlin has a concussion per Kreuger #Sabres50 https://t.co/hpPQLIeciV
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 26, 2019
Cernak Rule 48 Violation https://t.co/pB6aCzbC8T @NHLPlayerSafety #Sabres50 pic.twitter.com/H1Ic6B8yln
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 26, 2019
Stop me if you have heard this one before.
A Tampa Lightning player scums a Buffalo player causing injury and the referees missed the gutless, egregious act and didn't even call a penalty on the ice. On Monday night, Buffalo Sabres phenom Rasmus Dahlin was forced to leave the against the Tampa Bay Lightning after he was clobbered in the face by an elbow thrown by Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak. Dahin was bleeding from his nose and face as he struggled to find his way to the Buffalo bench.
After the game, Sabres head coach told media that Dahlin has a concussion courtesy Cernak's deliberately delivered head shot.
How hell do four on ice officials miss red blood gushing from the nose of Dahlin?l who was CARRYING THE PUCK!
The Sabres were on the power play at the time when Cernak targeted Dahlin's head. Had the idiot officials seen the Cernak assault on Dahlin the Sabres would have had a 5 on 3 man advantage.
Dahlin, who skated just 1 shifts for 11:23 TOI, was knocked out of the game by Cernak's cowardly, careless act.
How is it possible for four one ice officials to miss this assault on Dahlin?
Cernak head hunting Dahlin. Cowardly Cernak @NHLPlayerSafety https://t.co/mg58kam1ku
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 26, 2019
Cernak will be receiving a call from the Department of Player Safety for this egregious head hit that caused injury to his opponent.
The Cernak attack on Dahlin is very similar to the Nikita Kucherov low bridge hit on Vlad Sobotka during last month's Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden.
Kucherov's reckless act forced Sobotka to the injured reserve list for 4-6 weeks.
First it was Kucherov with the cowardly low bridge hit on Sobotka. No penalty. Now, its Cernak driving his elbow through Dahlin's face. No penalty. Lightning are a bunch of hacks @NHLPlayerSafety
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 26, 2019
The optimist in me says George Parros and the Department of Player Safety will be suspending Cernak for his idiocy. I would like to see Cernak banned for 3 games.
The realist in me says the on ice officials are incompetent and Player Safety is in business to protect some of the NHLPA players, not all.
In the past few days, the NHL suspended St. Louis defenseman Robert Bortuzzo for four games for his disgusting cross checks to the spine of Nashville forward Victor Arvidsson.
St. Louis’ Robert Bortuzzo has been suspended for four games for Cross-checking Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson. https://t.co/zYPlLjudxl
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 24, 2019
Toronto forward Alex Kerfoot was suspended for two games for boarding Colorado D Erik Johnson.
Toronto’s Alexander Kerfoot has been suspended for two games for Boarding Colorado’s Erik Johnson. https://t.co/Q1i23tNvVr
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 25, 2019
Neither Bortuzzo nor Kerfoot targeted the head of their opponent like Cernak did.
I'd give Cernak a four game ban for his gutless elbow to the face of Dahlin.
Kreuger was very polite and diplomatic while discussing the Dahlin concussion with media after the game. Kreuger is seething inside at the inept officiating that has occurred during the three games played between the Sabres and Lightning this season. I don't blame Kreuger one bit. The four officials on the ice were an embarassment to the game of hockey on Monday night in Tampa and then again in the two games in Stockholm, Sweden.
Head Coach Ralph Krueger addresses the media following tonight's game in Tampa. pic.twitter.com/GXdTMhi4CJ
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 26, 2019
Cooper is a lawyer. Of course he will deny all wrong doing by his players. Deny, deny, deny, eh, Jonny?
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 26, 2019
It's likely that Dahlin will be forced to sit out Wednesday's homee game versus Calgary and this weekend's home and home with Toronto.
