Columbus Blue Jackets‘ Boone Jenner delivered a hit to Buffalo Sabres defenceman Zach Bogosian in the third period Friday night that may earn an extra viewing from the NHL’s department of player safety.
Facing a four-goal deficit with eight and a half minutes to go in the game, Bogosian was sent head-first into the boards behind the Sabres net by Jenner. The Blue Jackets forward was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.
Tempers flared immediately following the collision, with Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner right in the middle of it all and looking for a fight. Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Johnson was unwilling to oblige the 6-foot-5, 240 pound netminder.
Lehner has a fight to his credit, albeit a tilt during his tenure with AHL’s Binghamton Senators. Riku Helenius probably won’t line up to dance with the big Swede again.
Lehner earned himself two minutes for leaving the crease and two minutes for roughing while Johnson also picked up a minor for roughing.
It was the second boarding major call against the Blue Jackets in the game. Forward Scott Hartnell sat for five minutes in the second period for a hit on Cody Franson. The contact on Jenner’s infraction appeared to be subtle, but Bogosian was in an awkward bent-over position that limited his ability to brace himself going into the boards.
Jenner, who plays a physical game, has never been suspended or fined in his NHL career. Supplemental discipline for Jenner’s role in this incident seems unlikely.
The Sabres won the game by a final score of 4-0.
