Artemi Panarin did not get penalized for his headshot on TJ Oshie in Game Two and now the NHL’s Department of Player Safety is passing on giving the New York Rangers superstar any supplemental discipline.
The news comes from ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski who tweeted on X, “no NHL Player Safety hearing for Artemi Panarin.”
While this should have been as obvious last night as it is this morning, no NHL Player Safety hearing for Artemi Panarin for his hit on T.J. Oshie in Game 2.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 24, 2024
They review everything
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 24, 2024
Panarin appeared to raise up and make contact with Oshie’s head as the Capitals forward went for a puck along the boards. Panarin was initially called for a major penalty, but after officials reviewed the hit, they rescinded their call and determined it to be clean. Meanwhile, concussion spotters took Oshie out of the game and he missed just over eight minutes of the third period.
“It’s one of those things it looks like he’s going after him a little bit,” Tom Wilson said. “Osh is in a vulnerable spot and he gets him high. I don’t know if he gets him in the head — I don’t know, I haven’t watched it — but it’s one of those hits where everybody stands up. He definitely went after him.”
“We watch a video at the beginning of the year of what they’re looking for from concussion symptoms or a hit and who needs to be removed,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said. “So to me though, when the spotters remove him, there has to be some type of contact with the head. So that’s where I was a little bit confused of him being removed by the spotters and then no minor penalty on the ice.”
Norris Trophy-winning defenseman turned ESPN analyst, PK Subban, believed the play was potentially premeditated and would result in supplemental discipline for most other players.
“If this isn’t Artemi Panarin, is the player getting suspended?” Subban said during ESPN’s postgame coverage. “That’s how I’m looking at it right now. I don’t care what it is. There’s head contact there whether it’s his back or his shoulder. He didn’t get his elbow up, but there’s contact with his head.
“If this is the regular season… I just want to see some consistency. If this is the playoffs, just tell me this is the playoffs and it’s a part of playoff hockey. Don’t tell me he didn’t hit him in the head at all.”
Panarin has never been suspended in his NHL career. Game Three is on Friday at Capital One Arena.
