The Maple Leafs haven’t experienced a game without Dion Phaneuf since November of 2010. That may change on Wednesday vs. the Los Angeles Kings, as the Leafs‘ number one defenceman will have a hearing with the league discipline office tomorrow for a hit on Kevan Miller at the end of Sunday night’s 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. It will be a phone hearing, which only tells us it will be less than five games if a suspension is handed down.
This is a pretty bad hit. Miller never turned. Dion Phaneuf claimed in his post game interview that he didn’t see him until it was too late; whether intentional or reckless, it’s Phaneuf’s responsibility not to ram Miller head first into the boards when his back is turned. Also a factor: Miller left the game injured, but the Bruin rookie is apparently OK (only a cut) and will play on Tuesday according to Bruins head coach Claude Julien.
Dion Phaneuf does not have a record in terms of suspension history in the NHL.
Phaneuf got away with this hit on the ice, but dirty Leaf hits don’t seem to slip by the League Discipline office. They don’t seem to have Dennis Seidenberg-type luck that way.
Captain Dion Phaneuf has a good shot at becoming fifth Leaf to face suspension already this season after Kessel, Clarkson, Ashton and Kadri.
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) December 9, 2013
If suspended, the timing couldn’t be worse with Los Angeles and St. Louis coming up in the Leafs‘ next two games.
For a full recap of the Leafs‘ 5-2 loss to Boston, check out the Game in 10.
