“Stepped over the line today” – Maple Leafs’ Kyle Clifford suspended for one game after illegal hit on Tampa Bay’s Ross Colton
Follow Us
Kyle Clifford
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford has been suspended one game by the National Hockey League (NHL) Department of Player Safety. This took place during Game 1 of the first-round playoff series on Monday against Tampa Bay Lightning.
Clifford, who boarded the Lightning forward Ross Colton, will now be unavailable for Game 2 of the teams’ first-round playoff series on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena. It’s also the first time in his 12-year NHL career that Clifford has been suspended.
The veteran ice hockey player impressed the Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe upon his return to the League.
“I didn’t like Cliff’s penalty. That’s not a hit you can make there,” Keefe said, as quoted by ESPN. “He stepped over the line today and paid for it. But the reason I made the decision was partially [because of] his physicality, but also how he skates and how he defends. Our fourth line has been the best when Kyle Clifford is in the lineup. It’s just that simple thing for me.”
Clifford “finishes with force” and made Colton “particularly defenceless”
In a video summary of why Clifford was suspended, the concerned department pointed out the angle Clifford took on Colton.
“After Colton releases the puck, Clifford approaches from behind, and having seen nothing but Colton’s numbers for some time, delivers a forceful check to the defenceless Colton, driving him dangerously into the boards,” the video explains. “It is important to note this is not a case where a sudden or unexpected movement by Colton before contact changes a legal check into an illegal one. While we have heard an argument that Clifford does make some attempt to deliver this contact legally, this remains a forceful hit to a defenceless player who is no longer in possession of the puck.”
Stay Updated!
Sachin Arora
(2527 Articles Published)