NHL Update: Senators Watson Suspended for high hit on B's defender
The Department of Player Safety announced this morning that Ottawa Senators forward Austin Watson has been suspended two games for interference on Bruins' defender Jack Ahcan. The hit happened at the 11:51 mark of the first period during yesterday's contest.
A two-minute minor was assessed to Watson on the play. Interesting note; Bruins' forward Anton Blidh was also given a two-minute minor for coming to the aid of the downed defencemen, offsetting Watson's penalty on the play. Thankfully, Ahcan did not miss a shift as a result of the hit.
One must yet again call into question the existence of game management and biased officiating when it comes to how officials are calling NHL games this season. Across the league, officiating has been sub-par this season, to say the least. Every time the NHL Department of Player Safety has to step in and hand out a suspension on what was called a two-minute penalty, NHL the officials' credibility takes another hit.
There have been a lot of comparisons drawn between what Brad Marchand did on February 8th to Tristan Jarry and what occurred between Watson and Ahcan. Marchand's intent was never to injure, while Watson's hit was definitely high. One received a 6-game suspension, while the other is banned for just a pair. Makes you wonder what goes into the decision-making.
