Colorado Avalanche’s Matt Stienburg faces possible suspension for hit vs Lightning

When you are a young-ish player trying to make a name for yourself on an NHL roster, sometimes you do something that surprises people. This could be the case for Colorado Avalanche center Matt Stienburg. Unfortunately, it could cost him.

Stienburg initiated a hit on a Tampa Bay Lightning player on Wednesday night that resulted in a five-minute major and a game misconduct penalty. Stienburg is meeting with the league to determine an official punishment for the hit.

To some, it might have just looked like “regular old hockey.” Some will say that he was just making a good play and that hockey is a very violent sport. Well, that can be the case, except that they have tightened up the rules over the last several years. It was a hit that you just cannot make anymore.

What’s the issue, you may ask? I believe that the biggest issue the league will have with Stienburg’s hit was the fact that he left his feet to initiate the hit. Had he charged at the Lightning player without leaving his feet, I am pretty sure that it would have been much less of an issue. It’s a matter of safety, and when you leave your feet, you essentially are creating more force with your body to hit whatever it is you are flying towards.

The Colorado Avalanche cannot afford these boneheaded decisions

It would not surprise me if Stienburg is suspended by the league. We will find out shortly what the decision is. The Colorado Avalanche cannot afford these sorts of things in a season like this one.

The Avalanche are dealing with many injuries and a suspension that will come to an end in mid-November (Valeri Nichushkin). While the later it gets in the year, the more players come back, having a player get suspended for an avoidable infraction is just not what you want to see with a team that has underperformed a fair amount.

Hopefully, the league determines that Stienburg won’t serve a long suspension, but given that he left his feet on the play, I would not be shocked if he gets a game or two. Either way, the Colorado Avalanche will have to deal with whatever punishment is handed down to the 24-year-old.