The Department of Player Safety has issued some more discipline, this time suspending Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno two games for his knee on Adam Lowry of the Winnipeg Jets. As the accompanying video explains:
"It is important to note that this is an intentional decision by Foligno and not a player accidentally falling or stumbling onto his opponent. Foligno clearly and intentionally uses his knee to inflict force on the head of his vulnerable opponent. We have heard Foligno’s arguement that this was not a violent knee strike or an exceptionally forceful blow and we agree. It is only the relative lack of force on this play that keeps Foligno from being subject to much more severe discipline for an action that is unacceptable for an NHL player to perform."
The fact that Foligno has not received a fine or a suspension previously in his career also helped his case, along with the fact that Lowry did not suffer a serious injury. The two were already getting fighting majors for the scrap that took place just before this incident, while Foligno earned an extra two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
That clean history is now tarnished, at least in terms of supplementary discipline. Foligno’s actions will be under a microscope going forward, and any other suspensions could be lengthened as a result. It also means he will miss games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings, important home dates to keep the Wild on their current hot streak.
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