UPDATE: Komarov has been suspended for three games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety:
Toronto’s Leo Komarov suspended three games for elbowing NY Rangers’ Ryan McDonagh. Video: https://t.co/WDUVIwP6PZ
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 19, 2016
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Leo Komarov will have a phone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety Friday afternoon after being given a match penalty for elbowing New York Rangers team captain Ryan McDonagh.
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McDonagh was playing just his second game after missing a week with concussion issues following an altercation with Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds. The Rangers defenseman was clipped by the Leafs winger at 18:58 of the first period and did not return to the game.
A suspension after a phone hearing could result in a fine or be as much as five games and a decision from the league will likely be handed down before the Leafs game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.
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The Komarov ejection and resulting power play marked a turning point in the game for the Rangers, who were outplayed by the more rested and energetic Leafs in the first. New York responded to P-A Parenteau’s first period goal with a tying tally early in the second from Derick Brassard on a 5-on-3 power play.
The Rangers then took the lead midway through the middle frame on Mats Zuccarello’s 20th goal of the season. The high-scoring Norwegian has been a thorn in the Leafs side this year, with five goals in three games.
The Rangers held on to a 2-1 lead through most of the second half of the game and backup Antti Raanta stood tall in a 35-save effort. Toronto tied the game with 2:30 left in regulation on Colin Greening’s first goal as a Leaf, but surrendered the lead 59 seconds later as a Morgan Rielly giveaway resulted in Derek Stepan’s game-winner.
Greening played over 18 minutes in his fourth game with Toronto and led the club with seven hits. The 29-year-old St. Johns, Newfoundland native is unlikely to draw significant interest from other clubs before February 29th with another season remaining on his contract, but appears motivated to take advantage of what could be his last opportunity to play in the NHL, which could benefit the Leafs down the line.
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With 10 days remaining until the trade deadline, teams have stepped up their scouting efforts to collect as much information as possible on players they may have interest in.
The ACC press box had 11 teams represented on Thursday, including St. Louis, Washington, New Jersey, Boston, Nashville, Tampa Bay, New York, Chicago, Montreal, Pittsburgh and Winnipeg.
There is some indication that Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello may look to get a jump on the rental market, which could mean preemptive moves of pending UFA’s Roman Polak, P-A Parenteau and James Reimer. Parenteau scored his 15th goal of the season and according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie could draw enough interest to get a second or third round pick in return.
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