Islanders’ Maxim Tsyplakov suspended three games for illegal check to the head on Flyers’ Ryan Poehling
On Friday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head on Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Poehling.
The incident happened during the first period of a contest between the two teams on Thursday night. Poehling was driving the net and took a shot on goal. During his follow-through, he was caught with a high hit from a backchecking Tsyplakov, sending the 26-year-old spiraling to the ice.
Ryan Poehling takes a high hit from Maxim Tsyplakov and is very slow to leave the ice 🤕
The hit was reviewed and there was no penalty on the play. pic.twitter.com/9XTr8E0XVN
Flyers forward Joel Farabee came over to confront Tsyplakov, taking a slashing penalty on the play. Poehling ended up leaving the game after the hit. Teammate Scott Laughton was also fined $5,000 for cross-checking Tsyplakov late in regulation.
Officials reviewed the play to determine if there was a major penalty. However, it was deemed there was no penalty on the play. The Flyers went on to win the game 5-3, extending the team’s point streak to four games.
The hit is bad for a couple of reasons, the big one being that Poehling has a history of concussions. Heading into his rookie season with the Montreal Canadiens in 2019, the former St. Cloud State suffered a concussion in training camp. He’s also had several other upper-body injuries throughout his NHL career.
Tsyplakov has never had any supplemental discipline so far in his NHL career. Granted, the undrafted Russian winger was signed to a one-year contract last May. In 44 games so far this season, the 26-year-old has scored seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points, placing him eighth on the team in scoring.
The Islanders (17-20-7) are last in the Metropolitan Division, eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.