Defense is San Jose's bread and butter this season. When you average two goals a game, it has to be. Today there is a bit less butter to help choke that life-sustaining bread down.
Brenden Dillon was suspended one game for his tomahawk slash on Washington defenseman Madison Bowey on Monday night.
In the closing seconds of a heated affair, Dillon took a little bump from Bowey that seemed to infuriate him. He let his emotions get the best of him before carelessly and intentionally swinging his stick at the Caps skater. Dillon was given a major penalty and game misconduct by the refs for his actions.
The NHL department of player safety handed down its punishment yesterday and it was as expected. It's Dillon 's first player safety hearing prior and I agree that the punishment fits the crime.
The 6' 3" 225lb. bruiser is a plus-1 with no goals and five assists in 26 games.
Here is what the league had to say about the whole thing:
“It is important to note that isn’t a slash delivered as part of a hockey play. Dillon is not attempting to alert an opponent to his presence, or to make a defensive play on a player with the puck."“This is simply a frustrated player delivering a retaliatory and forceful slash to a vulnerable area of an opponent’s body.…
The Sharks, already without Paul Martin and Tim Heed because of injury, will move forward without another one of their blueliners. Martin is expected back soon, but for now it puts the Pete Deboer in a tough spot personnel-wise.
With a less than impressive offense, the defense has been the glue holding the season together. You hate to see players injured, but it can be even more frustrating for fans when players sit because of their own actions.
Hopefully Dillon can keep his emotions in check and stay on the ice where all the magic happens. The 27-year-old forfeits $17,580.65 of his salary. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
The Sharks next chance to get back in the win column is tomorrow against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Thanks for reading, Steve