Penguins/NHL
Shawn Thornton is not likely to be the only player suspended from Saturday night’s Bruins – Penguins tilt. When it comes to the media, James Neal’s knee to Brad Marchand’s head in the first period is getting overshadowed due to Thornton’s actions.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed from the league and Neal will have a phone hearing on Monday with the Department of Player Safety, meaning Neal’s potential suspension wouldn’t be longer than five games.
Neal is getting the easy way out because Brad Marchand wasn’t injured. The league often dictates suspensions on whether a player was injured. Neal gets lucky there as his knee to Marchand’s head was with clear intent and a coward act. Should be a 6+ game suspension but he’ll probably get three to four games.
