Voracek hit with multi game suspension for hit on Boychuk!

The Philadelphia Flyers very distant hopes of finding away into the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs have just gotten a little more distant.

According to an official announcement from the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety the league has just issued a suspension to Flyers forward Jakub Voracek for what they have deemed to be an illegal check to New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk. The NHL's Department of Player Safety will be suspending Voracek for the next two games of the regular season, games that will be critical if the Flyers want to have any hope of making a miracle run into the playoffs. 

During the game on Saturday night the National Hockey League officials on the ice awarded Voracek a major penalty for his infraction on the ice but it is clear that the league felt that did not warrant a severe enough punishment. In their break down of today's decision the NHL explains that three major factors played a role in their decision to hit Voracek with the 2 game suspension.

The first is the distance that both players are from the puck. As you will be able to see on the replay neither Voracek nor Boychuk are ever really in a position to make a play on the puck here, and in fact the NHL admonished Voracek for ignoring the puck entirely on this play.

The second, unsurprisingly, is the fact that the main point of contact on this hit appears to be the head of Johnny Boychuk and with the league cracking down so hard on shots to the head this has become what you expect in these type of incidents. 

Last but not least the league was critical of the force with which Voracek delivered the illegal blow to Boychuk. The league dismissed the excuse that Voracek was merely bracing himself for the impact, pointing out that Voracek cuts sharply into Boychuk's path and delivers the blow with significant force. 

I know fans in Philadelphia were not happy with the major last night so no doubt this will only infuriate then further, however the Islanders will no doubt feel vindicated at this announcement. 

For a full explanation of the NHL's ruling today you can check out the video below.

[pub]