While there has been no official word yet from the NHL's Department of Player Safety, it looks like Edmonton's Zack Kassian is facing a long suspension for kicking Tampa Bay's Erik Cernak during a game Thursday night. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Kassian will have an in-person hearing with DoPS, which gives them the option to suspend him for six games or more.
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Kassian planted his skate blade into the chest of Cernak and delivered a hard push to create some distance so he can get up and get back into the play. Obviously, this was an extremely dangerous play that could have resulted in a very serious injury. Kassian attempted to defend himself following the game.
"That play he was holding my leg and it was just reactionary," Kassian told reporters. "I just tried to get loose. I was laying there for a while and I was trying to get my leg out and get moving."
"If I kicked him hard, I think he would have flew back or the ref would have called a penalty," he continued. "I was trying to get off and pull my leg off. He was holding me and (teammate Josh Archibald) down. I didn't even know where the puck was (and) I was trying to pull my leg up and get up."
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Kassian didn't receive a penalty on the play and he stayed in the game. This will be his second run-in with the DoPS—earlier this season he was suspended two games for going after Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk in a heated Battle of Alberta matchup.
Chernak gave his side of the story following Tampa's 3-1 win.
"I think he was a little bit mad," Cernak told reporters "I asked him what was wrong with him, because that's not the right play. (That's not) what to do on the ice. He didn't say (anything). So I don't know. Lucky it wasn't higher."
