A swift tap where the sun don't shine on San Jose Sharks forward Chris Tierney could potentially make what's been a difficult playoff debut infinitely worse for Leon Draisaitl.
The Edmonton Oilers' second-most-prolific forward was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for an unnecessary spear at the most unnecessary of times: trailing 5-0 in the second period of Game 4 on Tuesday night.
It's just the latest stick infraction to draw the ire of hockey fans, following spears from Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand in the regular season, as well as Andrei Markov's prodding of Rick Nash and Matt Calvert's cross-check of Tom Kuhnhackl in the playoffs.
Crosby avoided discipline, but Marchand didn't, as the league handed him a two-game suspension to conclude the regular-season schedule. Markov shrugged off the angst of some Rangers supporters, and Calvert was forced to sit Game 3.
Basing any potential discipline for Draisaitl on recent history leads to one question: How the hell will the NHL handle this?
A players' fame shouldn't matter, nor should a history of infractions or the intensity of playoff hockey. A deliberate poke to an opponent's nether regions or a cross-check forceful enough to shatter a composite stick is intent to injure, plain and simple.
If the Department of Player Safety aims to get rid of the tomfoolery, it should impose automatic suspensions. Does forcing Draisaitl to sit out the third period of a blowout send a better message than removing him from the roster for a pivotal Game 5?
There's no defense for Draisaitl's decision, not even frustration or an attempt to set the tone for his team. Simply being escorted to the dressing room early - and in the midst of a blowout - lets him off too easy.
After several infractions in the April alone, the NHL has a chance to set a precedent that can help eliminate these incidents from the game as the playoffs proceed. The league should take it.
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