NHL Breaking News: Milan Lucic Not Suspended for Hit on Miller

Milan Lucic was not suspended after meeting today with head disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan to discuss the power forward’s in-game collision with Buffalo Sabres all-star net minder Ryan Miller.

Here is a full description of why Shanahan decided not to suspend Lucic, courtesy of NHL.com

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Shanahan held a hearing with Lucic via conference call because he had specific questions he wanted to ask before making a determination on potential supplemental discipline.

"I had the hearing because I did make an initial assessment of the play as I do with all plays, but I did have some questions for Milan and I wanted to hear directly from him," Shanahan told NHL.com. "They were regarding his intent; at what point did he know there was going to be a collision; and whether or not he felt he had the time to avoid the collision. I was satisfied with his answers."

Shanahan said the minor penalty for charging was the proper call in this case because it follows Rule 42.1, which reads "a goalkeeper is not fair game just because he is outside the goal crease area." 

"The minor penalty called on the ice was the correct call," Shanahan said. "And, while it's unfortunate that Miller was hurt I saw nothing egregious about this hit that would elevate it to supplemental discipline."

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Lucic was called for charging when he skated into Miller during the game. Miller would later leave the game and was later diagnosed with a concussion.

This is now the second time a goaltender has been run into and a suspension has not been issued. James Reimer of the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to be sidelined with an undisclosed injury after being bumped by Brian Gionta.

I understand that goalies are not supposed to leave the crease, but in both instances Lucic and Gionta made contact with the goaltender and injured them.

Here is a sample of what Twitter had to say:

@MattBarnabyESPNMatthew Barnaby  @phelpsbj as per@TSNBobMcKenzie no further discipline for lucic. Right call by me8 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone  Favorite  Retweet  Reply

@DamoSpinDamien CoxIf we weren't sure after Gionta/Reimer, now confirmed by Lucic/Miller; open season on NHL goalies. Gotta get scoring up somehow, right?

16 minutes ago via web  Favorite  Retweet  Reply

@HunterCrowtherHunter CrowtherI'm glad the #NHL didn't suspend Lucic. Now we get to see if the #Sabres have any guts on November 23rd when they face the Bruins

@NYP_BrooksieLarry BrooksLack of suspension for Gionta most puzzling decision of season. Intent to take out Reimer obvious. Resulting injury obvious. Bizarre.

@dstaplesDavid StaplesHard to imagine why not. Intent to injury. RT @TSNBobMcKenzie: No suspension for Lucic. Here's a story detailing why ..nhl.com/ice/news.htm?i…  

What do you think? Should Lucic have been suspended? Are goalies going to be run into more as a result of this ruling?

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