SHARKSPAGE

Joe Thornton given 5 minute major and game misconduct after second period hit on David Perron

#19 THORNTON 2ND PERIOD CHECK ON #57 PERRON - FSN BLUES

2010-11 NHL Rule Addition – Illegal Check to the Head

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.

48.4 Game Misconduct – An automatic game misconduct penalty shall be assessed whenever a major penalty is assessed under this rule.

48.5 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.

48.6 Fines and Suspensions – Any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconducts under this rule, in either regular League or playoff games, shall be suspended automatically for the next game his team plays. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion.

San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton ran afoul of the NHL’s new Illegal Check to the Head rule tonight in St. Louis. Thornton was ejected from the game in the second period, and given a 5-minute major and a 10-minute game misconduct after a high hit on Blues right wing David Perron.

Exiting the penalty box nearly 5 and a half minutes into the second period, Thornton caught right wing David Perron with a heavy check at center ice. As Perron looked behind him on a breakout play, Thornton planted his shoulder into the jersey crest of Perron and momentum snapped his head back onto the ice. Perron was motionless for a brief period, but he was lead to the bench and able to take a regular shift less than a minute later. 8:43 later he inadvertantly blocked a shot from linemate T.J. Oshie, and backhanded an insurance goal by Antti Niemi.

The new NHL rule was instigated this season to cut down on the number of concussions and dangerous hits to the head. Specifically, calls would be made on hits where the “principal point of contact came on blindside, and lateral hits to the head.” Ostensibly this would afford players more protection against head shots they could not see coming.

In this particular instance Thursday night at the Scottrade Center, Thornton exited the penalty box and checked Perron from the front at a slight angle, negating the lateral element. Perron had his head turned behind him to receive a breakout pass from Pietrangelo that deflected off his skate. While St. Louis broadcaster Darren Pang noted that the puck was not on the stick of Perron at the time of the hit, the Sharks broadcasters also noted the height differential between Thornton (6-foot-4) and Perron (6-foot-0). Initially after the play, in a discussion with the ref Thornton pointed to his shoulder. In a subsequent discussion Dan Boyle pointed at the crest on his jersey, while the referee pointed towards Perron’s helmet.

“I thought it was a north-south hit,” Joe Thornton told reporters after the game. “He just ran into me to be honest with you, that is what I thought happened. I know he hit my shoulder, I don’t get my arms up on any hit.” Thornton went on to explain how he was notified of his ejection. “They didn’t even tell me I was out of the game. The lineseman brought me out of the box and told me to leave.”

“I didn’t know if I would be all right or not,” Perron said of the Thornton hit. “I feel fine right now. Fortunately I got to bounce back and score a big goal for us, and we got the win.” Perron finished with a goal, his fifth of the season, and 18:30 of ice time.

The Sharks killed off the 5-minute major, but it was the 5th power play handed to the Blues less than halfway into the game. St. Louis would finish the game 0-7 with 15 minutes of power play time. Tuesday San Jose allowed 1 goal on 9 power play opportunities for the Minnesota Wild. Discipline was a factor, and without their top scorer the Sharks would be shut out for the third consecutive road game. It is the first time in the 20-year franchise history they have not scored on the road for three straight games.

There is the possibility of supplementary discipline from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman or Senior EVP of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell, but the nature of the play and the reputation of the player involved should make that a perfunctory effort. This is a far different scenario than Cory Sarich’s elbow to the head of Patrick Marleau in the 2008 Western Conference Quarterfinals, or Dion Phaneuf’s head hunting check on Marleau earlier in that same game. A hit which lead off the 2009-10 NHL rule video on hits to the head.

Video of Thornton’s post-game interview with reporters is available via Comcast Sportsnet California. Video of Logan Couture’s fight and the Thornton hit on Perron is available via Kukla’s Korner.

[Update] Thornton Faces Likely Suspension – Andy Strickland for Truehockey.com.

[Update2] Thornton to have disciplinary hearing for hit on Perron – TSN.

San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton is facing a 2pm et disciplinary hearing with the NHL for his hit on St. Louis Blues forward David Perron on Thursday night.

The hearing, which will be conducted via conference call, could result in a suspension for Thornton who was assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct for the hit that occurred in the second period.