While Government employees have returned to work in the U.S. and are slowly ramping back up, things over at the NHL’s Department of Player Safety continue to operate at full speed. Already with a busy docket this week – as they’re scheduled to debate hits by Patrick Kaleta, Cody McLeod and Michael Grabner – now, Dallas Stars left wing Ryan Garbutt has been added to the list.
Per a memo issued by the department, “At approximately 5:28 of the second period, Garbutt hit Ducks forward Dustin Penner as Penner released a shot in the Dallas zone. There was no penalty called. Penner was helped to the dressing room and did not return…The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: charging and illegal check to the head.”
Here’s video of the incident:
During the third period, the Ducks informed media members that Penner was knocked out briefly and was under evaluation, but he had full mobility and was walking under his own power.
Following the game, Penner took to twitter, responding to dozens of fans who shared their opinions of the play. Some of the stuff people said to him was truly outrageous (link).
In typical Penner form though, he shot back and carved them up with his quick wit. Which, naturally, spawned this clever tweet from MayorsManor correspondent, Spike Coffmann:
Ryan Garbutt might have scrambled everything in @Dustinpenner25‘s head except his Sarcasm an,d Wit.
— Spike Coffman (@SpikeC20) October 21, 2013
All jokes aside, the most interesting exchange of tweets may have come from Penner and Garbutt’s agent Scott Norton.
@NortonSports head hit because it was not his moment off my body that drove him up into the air. Take a physics class
— Dustin Penner (@Dustinpenner25) October 21, 2013
For his part, Garbutt was offered an in-person hearing, meaning he’s eligible to receive a suspension exceeding five games.
Meanwhile, Penner was not on the Ducks’ flight to Toronto this morning. According to team representatives, although he’s showing signs of improvement, he’ll undergo further tests and evaluation in Orange County today – per concussion protocol.
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Get well soon Penner. I’m no Ducks fan, but that was a clear cheapshot. I hope everyone takes note of this Garbutt character. Hes probably just upset that he has such a ridiculous name.
That was a weak hit. Didnt even really look like it hit Penner in the head. Penner has always been soft and taken down by much smaller players. The elbow def didnt look that high. I loved how he got up like The Undertaken from WWF.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. No matter how small Garbutt is he had some speed and hit Penner directly square on the chin with his shoulder, while leaving his feet. It doesn’t always have to be an elbow to be dirty hit.
I would love to see you take any kind of hit from someone at that speed while launching themselves into you.
It’s a 4-5 gamer. How are people even talking about this? The guy skates through penner, missing everything but his head. You can have your elbows down all you want, but if your shoulder primarily hits a giant like penner in the face, it’s probably a headshot.
The hit was bad and I hope he gets well. With that said I think we can stop promoting Penner’s tweets like they are a good thing. He comes of classless and rude. Even when a fan kids he takes it as an attack. I used to appreciate the man but now I’m over him. Not to mention he is a Duck.
Even though Penner is now a Duck, I still hate seeing him taking a hit like that. What part of Garbutt leaping up into him did the refs not see? Just goes to show how weak NHL officiating is.
The viewers never got a really good look at the hit on the telecast last night. As badly as I felt for Pancakes I had to laugh because there was no way he was leaving the ice on a stretcher. He was ready to fight about it.