The NHL Department of Player Safety took another look and justice was served. The result is Flyers forward Scott Laughton has been fined $5,000 for his crosscheck in the third period against Maxim Tsyplakov of the New York Islanders. The incident transpired with 4:30 left in the game and Laughton was given a minor penalty.
Of course anyone watching the Flyers 5-3 win over the Isles Thursday night might have wanted far more than a pound of flesh for the (fill in the expletive and adjective) hit Tsyplakov delivered to Ryan Poehling in the first period. Poehling was clocked by the supposedly clean, legal hit and left the game. No penalty was initially called on the hit. Officials then went to video review to see if the hit was shoulder-to-shoulder and clean or would be a major penalty. After reviewing the video, no penalty was called. The decision caused much consternation to the Flyers, coach John Tortorella and basically anyone who has some intelligence regarding anatomy as helmets aren’t worn on shoulders.
The game could’ve justifiably gotten out of hand after that as Joel Farabee and a few others tried to get Tsyplakov for the rather predatory hit. Philadelphia got their revenge on the scoreboard and earned two points in regulation, making this three regulation wins in the last week after having one of the lowest regulation win totals in the league most of the way. They now are in a five-way tie for second-lowest amount with 12.
As for Poehling, there’s been no word other than it was an “upper body injury.” Depending the severity of the injury he could be back in the lineup in a few days or could be out until the Flyers resume play following the 4 Nations Face Off tournament. Hopefully there will be more information later today and he’ll be feeling 100 per cent as soon as possible.
Although Laughton was fined, Tsyplakov isn’t out of the woods just yet. The Department of Player Safety will have a hearing today “for an illegal check to the head” which the officials last night ruled was clean.
NY Islanders’ Maxim Tsyplakov will have a hearing today for an illegal check to the head against Philadelphia’s Ryan Poehling.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 17, 2025
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Depending on if Tsyplakov is suspended for a few games or not he may or may not be in the lineup with the Flyers return to UBS Arena next Friday for another tilt. But for now, kudos to the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety for knowing at least what a crosscheck looks like.