NHL makes Pens' Cullen pay for his “dangerous trip”

The National Hockey League has made Pittsburgh Penguins veteran forward Matt Cullen pay for his reckless actions in last night's contest. Cullen has been fined $1,000 for what NHL Player Safety called a “dangerous trip” on J.T. Miller of the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Cullen’s stick jammed into Miller’s right leg, causing him to fall backward as the puck came his way. The Pens' veteran forward received a minor penalty for the play. 

The Penguins went on to lose 4-3 at the hands of the Bolts. 

In 17 games so far this season, the 42-year-old has tallied just a goal and two assists. 

The Washington Capitals might see this as payback for what Cullen had to say about enforcer Tom Wilson earlier this week. Cullen was quite vocal and did not hold back about his displeasure Wilson’s suspension being reduced from 20 games to 14.

“When the next CBA comes up, that’s something we (should) address,” Cullen told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I don’t think anybody is real happy with it.”

“I don’t think it’s a good look for our league, for our game to need to go to appeals,” Cullen added. “You’d like the headlines to be about the play on the ice and the players, not the other (stuff) going on outside of the game.

“I think most guys probably don’t love that — that it got reduced in that manner as far as going to appeal after appeal.” Wilson’s appeal was originally upheld by commissioner Gary Bettman, but was reduced by neutral arbitrator Shyam Das. 

The Penguins, who need to find a way to win, will be back in action Saturday against the Senators in Ottawa.