Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer is furious with the NHL after Carolina Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall escaped supplemental discipline for a hit that concussed star defenceman Jake Sanderson in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.
Andlauer, who has consistently supported his players since purchasing the club, voiced his frustration in a text message to the Ottawa Citizen on Friday. He argued that Hall should have received a far more severe penalty than the two-minute minor for checking to the head that was assessed during the game.
“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.”
The hit occurred during the Senators’ 2-0 loss to the Hurricanes on Thursday night. Hall’s shoulder made direct contact with Sanderson’s head, knocking his helmet off and leaving the defenceman concussed. Officials Nicolas Deslauriers and Mike Reilly gave Hall a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head. Later in the game, they reviewed a potential spear by Hall on Brady Tkachuk, resulting in a minor penalty for Tkachuk.
Senators head coach Travis Green confirmed Friday that Sanderson will miss Game 4 on Saturday at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators trail the series 3-0 and face elimination. “He’s not doing very well,” Green said. “He won’t play tomorrow.”
Green expressed shock that the NHL’s department of player safety did not schedule a hearing for Hall. “I’d be shocked if there wasn’t any supplementary discipline in this event,” Green said. “It’s a blatant shot to the head. I was shocked that there wasn’t a major, especially surprised there wasn’t some kind of talk about something.”
The lack of discipline is especially glaring given that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was in attendance and witnessed the hit firsthand. The Senators organization and fans are left questioning the league’s priorities.
Sanderson’s absence compounds the Senators’ defensive woes, as they are already without their top blueliner for a must-win game. The team will try to force a Game 5 back in Raleigh on Monday night.
Hall told reporters after the game that the hit was unintentional, but the Senators remain incensed that a hit to the head resulting in a concussion drew only a minor penalty and no further action from the league.
