As a fan of the NHL, it's hard not to get frustrated when questionable penalties are only given a minor call. It's a common issue that has plagued the league throughout the regular season, and now it seems to be happening even more frequently during the playoffs. It's understandable to some degree, as the intensity and physicality of the game tend to ramp up in the postseason.
However, during last night's game 6 between the Colorado Avalanche and the Seattle Kraken, things got out of hand. Seattle forward Jordan Eberle made a hit on Avalanche forward Andrew Cogliano, despite seeing numbers on the player's back, resulting in a minor penalty being assessed.
Let's be clear: this was a terrible hit from behind, and it occurred in an area of the ice where no contact should ever be made. It's a recipe for disaster, as the only possible outcome is an injury. It's mind-boggling that only a minor penalty was given for such a dangerous play. The call was flat-out wrong.
The NHL Department of Player Safety needs to review this play immediately. Even though Eberle isn't typically known as a dirty player, it's still his responsibility to know when to hold back and avoid making dangerous hits. If the league is serious about making the game safer, incidents like this need to be dealt with more severely - this should be a suspendable offense.
