Tampa Bay Lightning News: Erik Johnson suspended for boarding Vladislav Namestnikov

(Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson has received a much-deserved two-game suspension for boarding against Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov.

If you are even the most casual Tampa Bay Lightning fan in the world, you were probably screaming at the top of your lungs late in the second period on Saturday night as the Lightning took on the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on Denver. If nothing else, the entire Bolts Nation experienced a collective cringe.

There was just about three minutes left in the second period. The Lightning jumped out of the tunnel early and had already built a 4-1 lead over the Avalanche. Needless to say, the Avalanche wasn’t too pleased with the way the game was progressing. This led to a number of physical altercations on the ice.

Unfortunately, one of these physical altercations could have had serious repercussions for the Tampa Bay Lightning. There was a very real possibility the Lightning would have to deal with an extended absence from one of their more valued players, forward Vladislav Namestnikov.

Allow us to set the scene for you. Vladdy took control of the puck in the Lightning zone and proceeded to carry the puck through the neutral zone. Meanwhile, Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson quickly followed him up the ice. In the neutral zone, Namestnikov passed the puck over to his linemate, Nikita Kucherov.

Kucherov continued to carry the puck through the neutral zone and into the Lightning’s offensive zone. This is where he would pass the puck back to Namestnikov in the hopes of creating a solid scoring chance for the Bolts. As can be expected, Johnson was still hot on the heels of Namestnikov as he approached the goal.

Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning /

Tampa Bay Lightning

Just before Namestnikov would take his shot, he was met with the business end of a slash from Johnson. Regrettably, this isn’t the worst thing that would come from the interaction between Namestnikov and Johnson.

After the shot was fired and Avalanche goaltender Johnathan Bernier had made the block, Johnson decided to take things to the next level with Namestnikov. With no provocation, or necessity for that matter, Johnson gave Vladdy a hard shove to the numbers and sent him flying into the boards with a resounding thud.

Vladdy’s stick goes flying into the air and his hands go straight to his face, which just happened to have a rather unpleasant meeting with the boards. Namestnikov was clearly in a great deal of pain. It didn’t take long for defenseman Victor Hedman and forward Nikita Kucherov to take exception to Johnson’s actions.

Before anyone even knew what happened, there were multiple players pushing, shoving, and dropping the gloves behind the Colorado net. All the while, Vladdy is left on the ice writing in pain.

Needless to say, it wouldn’t be long before Lightning Head Athletic Trainer Tom Mulligan rushed the ice to check on Namestnikov.  While this was going on, Johnson proceeded to take his frustrations out on the officials as he screamed across the ice, proclaiming his displeasure at their decision.

The good news for the Tampa Bay Lightning was Vladdy was able to make it to his feet and skate off the ice under his own volition. While the collision with the boards was a rather nasty one, Vladdy was able to shake it off and return to the ice for the remainder of the game.

When all was said and done, Johnson had earned himself a plethora of penalties. Johnson would be assessed a two-minute penalty for Slashing, a five-minute penalty for Boarding, and a 10-minute Game Misconduct penalty. What wasn’t known at this time is whether or not the NHL Department of Player Safety would dish out any sort of supplemental discipline for his actions.

Well, it seems as if Player Safety took exception to Johnson’s actions and has made the decision to suspend Erik Johnson for two games. Considering this isn’t Johnson’s first rodeo with Player Safety, one would’ve easily assumed he’d get around five games for his actions, but this was not the case here.

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It’s always a good day when the league stands up for one of its own when they are wronged. Considering the way officiating has been this season, it’s not every day a team gets some form of justice when they are wronged like this. Well…except for the kind of justice handed out when the gloves hit the ice.