Canadiens’ Ryan White Suspended Five Games For Hit On Kent Huskins [Video]


The Montreal Canadiens right-winger Ryan White has been suspended five games by the NHL for a check to the head of Kent Huskins in the Canadiens 7-3 lopsided loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. White is now the second player to be suspended five games for an inappropriate hit this season with Patrick Kaleta of the Buffalo Sabres.

Kent Huskins was bringing the puck from behind his own net to start a Flyers’ breakout when he was hit in the head by the Canadiens young winger. White led with his shoulder and connected with Huskins before finding himself in a scrum near the boards.

Kurtis Foster immediately reacted to White’s hit and speared him into the ground before a scuffle ensued. The linesman jumped in quickly to break-up the fight as Kent Huskins laid flat on the ice in pain.

Huskins took his time getting up and looked okay after the hit but will miss the rest of the season with a concussion. White was ejected from the contest and will now miss the next five games.

The Canadiens could use White’s aggressive play as they are currently on a three-game losing streak. Montreal is also tied atop the Northeast division with the Boston Bruins at 57 points.

Philadelphia went on to blow out the Canadiens after a dominating performance in the Flyers’ four-goal second period as the NHL focused on the devastating hit by White. Here’s video of White’s head shot on Kent Huskins:


The NHL has made it known that players may not extend off the ice to make a check, especially on open ice. These types of hits can cost a player their career and can be avoided with clean checks to the body.

The NHL met with Ryan White for a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday and made the decision to suspend him for the reckless blow to Huskins. The NHL made a statement after the hearing and noted that “White will forfeit $18,581.10” of his salary during the suspension.

White will be eligible to return to the ice on April 27th for the Canadiens final regular season game as his suspension began Wednesday night while his team faced the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins sent the Canadiens home with a 6-4 loss after Peter Pudaj struggled in net and was relieved after the first period.

Ryan White has just one point on the season as he scored a goal against the New Jersey Devils in late January. He’s appeared in 25 games this year and is second on the team with 67 penalty minutes.

Should Ryan White have been suspended for longer than five games after his reckless head shot on Kent Huskins?

[Image via Creative Commons]

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