Islanders' Tsyplakov suspended 3 games for hit to Flyers' Poehling's head
The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov three games for an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Poehling on Friday.
Tsyplakov caught Poehling up high in front of the Islanders' net but wasn't penalized on the play.
Ryan Poehling takes a high hit from Maxim Tsyplakov and is very slow to leave the ice 🤕
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 17, 2025
The hit was reviewed and there was no penalty on the play. pic.twitter.com/9XTr8E0XVN
"I think it was a good hit," Tsyplakov said after the game, according to The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner. "I didn't think it was dirty, but I didn't want to injure a guy. I hope he is OK."
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy also believed Tsyplakov's hit was legal.
"Have I changed my mind? I haven't," Roy said Friday, according to Rosner. "I still think the same way. When I looked at the hit during the game and even after, I felt like the first thing that happened is the shoulder."
Tsyplakov, who qualifies as a rookie despite being 26 years old, has seven goals and 12 assists over 44 games this season.
Poehling, who turned 26 on Jan. 3, has four tallies and 11 helpers across 43 contests in his second campaign with the Flyers after playing one with the Pittsburgh Penguins and his first three with the Montreal Canadiens.