The Vancouver Canucks will be without Tucker Poolman for the next two games after he was handed a suspension from the Department of Player Safety for his high-stick on Kiefer Sherwood. As the accompanying video explains:
"It is important to note that this is not a play where a player simply loses control of his stick, nor one where an off-balance player flails to try to steady himself. This is not a hockey play. This is an intentional and retaliatory stick swing, that strikes an opponent directly in the head. Such actions cannot be excused."
Given Poolman’s clean history, with no fines or suspensions so far in his career, and the fact that Sherwood did not suffer a serious injury on the play, the suspension was limited at two games. He did also receive a match penalty and game misconduct, though it occurred in the third period of a game that was already well out of hand.
That certainly won’t be the case going forward however, as this penalty will be considered in the future for any further supplementary discipline.
The Canucks recalled Madison Bowey earlier Friday, anticipating the suspension.
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