Avalanche Forward Penalized Following Major Penalty in Recent Game Against the Lightning
The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today that Colorado Avalanche player Matt Stienburg has received a two-game suspension without pay for charging Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak in NHL Game No. 157 in Colorado on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The event took place at 17:12 during the second period. Stienburg received a major penalty and was ejected from the game for charging.
According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement and considering his yearly earnings, Stienburg will lose $9,361.98. The funds are directed towards the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. The suspension was handed out by the NHL Department of Player Safety following a hearing, with the hit being characterized as “unnecessary and dangerous.” Stienburg jumped up and collided with Cernak, hitting his head on the boards right after Cernak had passed the puck.
Stienburg was ejected from the game due to a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct resulting from a reckless and unneeded action.
“Stienburg elevates unnecessarily, turning his body and launching up and into a check that makes significant contact with Cernak’s head and is delivered with requisite force that merits supplemental discipline, : the NHL detailed in a video explaining the action leading to the suspension.
Cernak had to depart Wednesday’s game and he didn’t come back.
This punishment will prevent Stienburg from playing in Colorado’s next away game against the Nashville Predators on Saturday and their upcoming home game against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.
The Colorado Avalanche, greatly affected by a series of injuries, are currently on the lookout for additional forwards.
As per Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman’s “32 Thoughts” column on Wednesday, the Avalanche are keen on securing a player to stabilize their forward group.
“You will not be surprised to hear Colorado is looking for forwards, Need to get through a miserable stretch where five of their top nine are out.” : Friedman wrote.
The Avalanche’s difficulties were evident during Wednesday’s 5-2 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where they conceded three goals in the opening six minutes of the game.
The injuries to Ross Colton (foot) and Miles Wood (upper body) have been confirmed by head coach Jared Bednar, which has further depleted the Avs’ forward group. Adding to the list of missing players are Gabriel Landeskog, who is out indefinitely, Valeri Nichushkin, serving a suspension until mid-November, and Jonathan Drouin, sidelined with an upper-body injury since the start of the season.
Running out of choices, the Avalanche might consider acquiring players who do not have a solid position in their current teams, like Maple Leafs forward Nicholas Robertson.
Image Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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