The NHL’s Division of Participant Security has suspended Toronto Maple Leafs’ ahead Alexander Kerfoot two video games for boarding Colorado Avalanche defender Erik Johnson. Kerfoot was pressured to overlook a while with a facial harm and had solely lately returned to the Maple Leafs lineup previous to this hit.
The 25-year-old Kerfoot spent the primary two seasons of his NHL profession with the Avalanche and was a former teammate of Johnson. Feeling apparent regret for the hit, Kerfoot made it clear that he had no malicious intent on the play.
“In the beginning, I feel I’m upset in myself,” Kerfoot stated of the hit “It was clearly a nasty play. I do know Johnson nicely and I simply hope he’s alright, I hope that he doesn’t miss any time or something like that. I really feel horrible.”
He’d proceed by giving his personal clarification of what occurred on the play.
“He form of sadly misplaced possession proper as I used to be pushing him after which he stumbles and I pushed him into the boards. It’s no excuse. It was unlucky timing but it surely was additionally a nasty play by me and I simply hope he’s alright.”
In 22 video games this season, Kerfoot has scored 5 targets and eight factors.
That is the second suspension for boarding in as many days that the NHL has handed out.
Beneath is the NHL’s video explaining the play and the next suspension. Following the video might be a full transcript of the video for these .
Transcript of NHL’s Video
Saturday evening in Colorado, Maple Leafs’ ahead Alexander Kerfoot was penalized for boarding Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson. Because the video exhibits, Johnson skates in the direction of a free puck behind the Colorado goal-line as Kerfoot pursues on the forecheck.Johnson arrives on the puck first and makes an attempt to corral it with Kerfoot behind him. As Johnson reaches the puck, Kerfoot delivers a shove to his again, inflicting a violent crash instantly into the boards. That is boarding.It is very important be aware that Kerfoot is completely answerable for this play. From the second that he hits the hash marks, Kerfoot sees nothing however Johnson’s numbers. This isn’t a case of a participant turning his again instantly previous to contact in a method that turns a authorized hit into an unlawful one.Additional, whereas the shove itself just isn’t delivered with distinctive power, it was additionally not a case the place a participant places his palms on the again to information, direct or interact the puck service. It’s delivered at an especially harmful distance from the boards whereas each gamers are touring with velocity.Additionally it is delivered in a way that sends Johnson instantly into the boards and never at an angle which may reduce the hazard of the play.And whereas we acknowledge Kerfoot’s commentary that Johnson loses his footing barely as he makes an attempt to show up ice, it’s the shove by Kerfoot that causes Johnson to crash dangerously into the end-boards.This can be a forceful shove to the again of a participant who just isn’t in place to adequately shield himself, placing him dangerously and instantly into the boards.To summarize: that is boarding. Kerfoot has been neither fined nor suspended beforehand in his 179-game NHL profession. The Division of Participant Security has suspended Alexander Kerfoot for 2 video games.
