To say that Mike Hoffman is unhappy with the one-game suspension handed to Bruins forward A.J. Greer is an understatement.
In the first period of Thursday’s game at Boston, Hoffman was cross-checked by Greer to the chin. Greer received a major penalty and was ejected from the game, while Hoffman retreated to the locker room. He received “15 stitches on his chin, 10 others in his mouth,” he noted in the Canadian’s locker room, after Saturday morning training for the duel against the Blue Jackets.
The damage is obvious, and Hoffman is obviously happy not to hide it. After posting a rare video of himself on Instagram on Friday, he showed up in front of the cameras on Saturday with a scarred chin, swollen lower lip. Jean Pascal reportedly said he looked like a boxer who just won by unanimous decision.
“I was cross-checked in the face. This is unacceptable in 2023, Hoffman lamented. For five or seven years, the league has insisted on protecting players and limiting hits to the head. It wasn’t a check, but it’s frustrating.
Hoffman says he was not consulted by anyone in the disciplinary process.
Hoffman is particularly outraged by the criteria the Department of Player Safety relied on in making its decision.
“The length of the suspension shouldn’t depend on whether I have a cut or lost teeth. If I hadn’t been cut, would it have been suspended? What if I don’t return to the game, is the suspension longer? I do not know. But that does not change the gesture that was made. »
Thinking out loud, Hoffman wondered, for example, if Greer would have received a longer suspension if he hadn’t returned to the game.
Whether Greer was ejected from the game in the first period weighed in the balance, however. In such cases, the NHL sometimes considers the ejection to be virtually a game suspension in and of itself.
Hoffman finished the game but wore a full visor, and he will wear it again on Saturday night.
“On my first appearance after the incident, I got a good chance to score. I felt involved. But it was uncomfortable. I wasn’t breathing as well and had trouble drinking,” he said.
Saturday’s game will also be the Night of Celebration of Indigenous Peoples, a second initiative of its kind from the Canadiens. For the occasion, O Canada will be sung in French, English and Cree, and players will warm up in monochrome red jerseys, designed specifically for the evening.
Jordan Harris is one of the players personally challenged by the cause, in particular because his girlfriend, Codie Cross, is from a Métis community in Alberta.
“It’s so important to play games like this to support First Nations. It’s cliché to say it, but hockey really is for everyone, Harris said. We try to popularize hockey with communities of all origins. »
This type of initiative has obviously made waves in the NHL, most recently with brothers Eric and Marc Staal refusing to wear a jersey in support of LBGTQ communities during a Florida Panthers pre-game warm-up.
“It’s important that everyone feels welcome to play hockey,” added Harris. We have seen many stories of players who did not feel welcomed, who were victims of racism. Hockey has been very good to me. But I know very well which side of the debate I am on and I will always believe that hockey is for everyone. »
Harris, speaking of which, will return to action after missing the past two weeks to recover from a lower-body injury. Chris Wideman gives up his place, which will allow CH to come back with a defense of three left-handers and three right-handers.
“It was disappointing, especially to miss the game in Boston,” admitted Harris, a Boston-area native. I would have liked to participate. It’s hard not to play, you’re competitive, you want to be there, but well done to the guys, they didn’t have easy confrontations. »
Up front, everything indicates that Jesse Ylönen will replace Rem Pitlick.
Samuel Montembeault was the first goalkeeper to return to the locker room, which suggests that he will defend the Canadiens’ net against the Blue Jackets.
