Rasmus Ristolainen took a swing at Sidney Crosby Monday night in a net-front scrum and was lucky to escape with only a minor.
The incident happened after the whistle in front of the Pittsburgh net. Bodies tangled, elbows got up, and Ristolainen threw a punch at the Penguins captain before linesmen could separate the pile.
Two minutes. Back to the bench. On with the period.
The referees are clearly trying to keep this series from tipping over the edge. A 2-minute call instead of a 5-minute major says exactly where the officials want the temperature set.
Problem is, this isn't that kind of rivalry.
A Pennsylvania series the officials cannot referee like a regular-season Tuesday
Here's the clip if you want to see the punch land, and the split-second where Crosby looks at the ref like he can't believe what just happened.
-
Ristolainen is a big body built for these exact moments. Rick Tocchet has been using him in the rough minutes all series, and the Flyers don't lose much by sending him to the box for two for a shot at Pittsburgh's franchise player.
That's the ugly math of playoff hockey. Trading two minor minutes for a poke at Sidney Crosby is a deal a lot of defensemen will take every shift.
Pittsburgh's bench wasn't happy. Dan Muse had every right to be on the bench barking at the officials. You cannot let a visiting defender take free shots at your captain without a real response from the stripes.
The Flyers lead this series 1-0 after winning Game 1 on the road on Saturday. They have zero interest in letting Pittsburgh feel comfortable on home ice in Game 2.
Crosby, 38, is not the player who runs away from those scrums. He's been going to the dirty areas since before half this Flyers roster was in junior hockey. He isn't about to stop in April.
But the captain also can't take too many of these hits over a long series. Daniel Briere, watching from above, will be fine with any scenario that ends with Crosby skating a few extra minutes of adjusted ice time.
Game 2 still has two periods to play. Both benches know exactly where the line is now, and both will find out tonight whether the officials plan to hold it.
Should Rasmus Ristolainen have been given a bigger penalty for swinging at Sidney Crosby?
Also read on Puck Reporter :
Leah Hextall faces backlash over post-game interview that's going viral
