NEW YORK — The NHL has suspended New York Rangers defenceman John Moore for two games for an illegal check to the head of Montreal forward Dale Weise in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final.
Moore was given a major penalty and ejected from Tuesday night’s game in Montreal when, at 10:41 of the third period, he nailed Weise with a blindside open-ice hit that was almost identical to Montreal forward Brandon Prust’s unpenalized hit on Derek Stepan in Game 3.
Weise’s helmet was knocked off after Tuesday night’s hit and he was wobbly when he got up, with teammate P.K. Subban grabbing him in a bear hug for support. He left for treatment but returned to the bench late in the period.
The NHL Department of Player Safety explained on a video on the league’s website that Moore drove upwards when he hit Weise, making the forward’s head the primary point of contact.
The league said that Weise made no sudden movements prior to the hit, so the onus was on Moore to avoid contact with Weise’s head. Prior to the NHL’s ruling, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault argued that any extra discipline against Moore for the hit was unnecessary.
“It doesn’t meet the league standard as far as a late hit,” Vigneault said Wednesday.
“It was a hit that Johnny caught him a little high in the chest, (the) player didn’t see it coming.
“It probably warrants the penalty that was given on the ice. Other than that, I don’t see what else it could warrant, but I’ve been surprised before. We’ll see what happens.”