Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer has publicly criticized the NHL’s handling of Carolina Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall‘s hit on defenseman Jake Sanderson, calling the two-minute penalty insufficient given the injury sustained.
During Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre, Hall’s hit caught Sanderson in the head and the officials assessed a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head.
In a message to the Ottawa Citizen, Andlauer criticized the penalty disparity between different types of infractions.
“One should have control of their body the same way they have control of their stick,” Andlauer wrote. “It’s ridiculous that you get four minutes for a high stick to the face that draws blood, but only two minutes for a direct shot to the head that draws a concussion.”
It was confirmed Friday that Taylor Hall would not face a hearing and no supplemental discipline would be issued. So, Hall received no further punishment beyond the two-minute penalty.
The owner’s statement addresses what the Senators organization views as inconsistent penalty enforcement. High-sticking infractions that draw blood result in four-minute double-minors while Hall’s hit to the head that caused a concussion received a two-minute penalty.
Jake Sanderson took himself out during Senators team practice
Sanderson suffered a concussion and has been ruled out for Game 4. The 23-year-old defenseman had 14 goals and 54 points in 67 regular-season games while averaging 24:50 of ice time. He averaged 27:57 in ice time through the first three playoff games.
Senators head coach Travis Green confirmed Jake Sanderson’s status during his Friday media availability. Green shared that Sanderson wasn’t removed by concussion spotters but took himself out during the team’s 5-on-3 power play.
“He’s not doing very well,” Green stated bluntly. “He won’t play tomorrow.”
Green has also expressed frustration with the officiating after Thursday’s game.
“It’s pretty obvious why he left the game,” he said. “I just don’t understand how there’s not a five-minute major called on a hit to the head. It’s a blatant hit to the head. The kind of hits you don’t want to see. It’s ridiculous that there wasn’t even a review.”
The Ottawa Senators are down 3-0 in the series and facing elimination in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon. They will be without both Sanderson and top-pairing defenseman Artem Zub, who was injured in Game 1.
Edited by Anjum Rajonno