Reporter Eric Engels confirmed Noel Acciari’s suspension status following the dirty hit he delivered to Juraj Slafkovsky during last night’s game.
In that match, the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-1, with Sidney Crosby shining by scoring two goals. This defeat marked the Canadiens’ third consecutive loss, dropping them to eighth place in the Atlantic Division with a 4-7-1 record.
Toward the end of the third period, the Canadiens lost Slafkovsky after Acciari’s dangerous hit. He elevated his shoulder to strike Slafkovsky’s head, which was deemed dirty by two former NHL players, including Kevin Bieksa, during the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast:
‘In hockey, that’s a dirty hit. We all know the context—two players are competing for the puck, and the one who should get it first opts to hit the other instead. That’s definitely a dirty play.’
In related news, Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reported that the NHL’s Department of Player Safety will not impose any further penalties on Acciari for the hit.
Once again, the Canadiens are grappling with injuries, as Slafkovsky, who has already been sidelined for three games this season, may be out again due to this latest incident. His absence, along with Kaiden Guhle’s and Patrik Laine’s ongoing injury issues, has frustrated fans who are tired of the team’s struggles due to missing key players.
Bieksa, who commented on Acciari’s actions, also expressed concern about the Canadiens, suggesting that the team is ‘regressing’ in their rebuilding process.
Fans are hopeful that Martin St. Louis can soon find a way to improve the situation.
