There's no love lost between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators during the Round One matchup in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and after the events of Game 3, it's safe to say that the general feeling of dislike has grown even deeper after Jake Sanderson left the game following a check to the head of Taylor Hall.
At exactly 4:24 in the second period of Thursday night's game in Ottawa, Ontario, Hall was assessed a two-minute minor penalty after an illegal check to the head against Sanderson. The fumble occurred in the Senators' defensive zone as Hall and Sanderson both went for the loose puck after Nicholas Matinpalo intercepted Logan Stankoven's pass to Jackson Blake.
A blow to Hall's shoulder broke the helmet of Sanderson, who stood on his skates and proceeded to punch Hall in the back of the head, as Matinpalo and Ridley approached him with Greg Sanderson following shortly thereafter.
No antitrust penalties were assessed, and Sanderson spent two more shifts on the ice – the last of which lasted 2:44. During those changes, he took a hit on Sebastian Aho, and also blocked a shot from Blake with his hand – which many believed led to his absence for the remainder of the game.
Travis Green confirms Jake Sanderson injury, objects to lack of review
Senators head coach Travis Green, when asked the reason for his leaving the game, responded, "I think it's pretty obvious why he left the game." "I can't understand how a five-minute major wasn't called for a blow to the head. That's a tremendous blow to the head; the kind of blow you don't want to see. I think it's ridiculous there was no review.
He further pointed to the review called on Brady Tkachuk, who himself gave a dirty hit to Jordan Martinook, although it was reduced to two minutes for interference.
"They call a review on Brady, on a penalty, which I don't even know what the penalty was, and then they completely miss a review. I mean, I'd be surprised if there isn't some review from the league on that, and something is done."
Sanderson's injury is another major blow to the Senators, who lost their other top-pairing defenseman, Artem Zub, in the first half of Game 1 in Raleigh on Saturday.
