Jack Johnson gets 3-game ban for head-shot on Jiri Tlusty (Video)
The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a significant number of players out of their lineup this season. Add Jack Johnson’s name to that list, thanks to his own poor decision.
The defenseman was suspended by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Wednesday for three games, following his illegal check to the head penalty on Jiri Tlusty of the Carolina Hurricanes in Tuesday night’s loss for the Jackets.
The incident occurred at 7:31 of the third period. Johnson was assessed a minor penalty for illegal check to the head. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Johnson will forfeit $70,276.50.
As the video shows … Johnson screwed up.
This should have been a check through the body, or with the shoulder as the principal point of contact. It wasn’t a late hit by NHL standards. Tlusty should have expected to be hit after releasing the puck. But as Player Safety often tells us, he shouldn't have expected to be hit in the head, with Johnson elevating for the hit.
This probably would have only been a two-gamer if Tlusty wasn’t knocked out of the game; it doesn’t matter that Tlusty said he was “fine” afterward. An injury's an injury.
Overall, this was a classic DoPS ban: It’s not the hit, it’s how you hit. And eventually that message will resonate with NHL players, if it hasn’t already.
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