NHL Player Safety is not stepping in after Leon Draisaitl’s cross-check on Auston Matthews.
The Edmonton Oilers forward drew plenty of attention for the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs captain, and the reaction from Toronto fans was immediate. But despite the buzz around the incident, Draisaitl will not face supplemental discipline for it.
The key deadline passed at 5 PM without any action from Player Safety, making the decision clear. The cross-check had been widely discussed after it went viral, with calls for a further penalty growing in the aftermath.
On the ice, though, the play itself never led to a punishment from the officials. The referee saw it happen in front of him and let the game continue.
The lack of a hearing or fine is also in line with the view that this was not the kind of incident Player Safety tends to punish. Draisaitl did not draw blood, and Matthews was not struck up high.
Even with the outrage surrounding the moment, Toronto did not come away from the night in a bad mood. The Maple Leafs won the game 7-2, and the result softened whatever edge the cross-check might have added.
The bigger picture, at least from Toronto’s side, is a team that now looks settled offensively. The Leafs are on a roll, their attack is clicking, and opposing teams are starting to feel the pressure. The cross-check was another flashpoint in that frustration, but it won’t lead to anything further from the league.
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