The Winnipeg Jets are off to one of the best starts in NHL history, holding the top spot in the league with a 15-3 record. However, a disappointing loss to the Florida Panthers may have exposed a chink in the armor of the otherwise dominant Jets. During the game, a controversial play likely left Jets fans and management frustrated.
With about five minutes remaining in the third period, Jets defenseman Neal Pionk delivered a punishing hip check on Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist. The hit rattled Boqvist, who needed a few moments to recover on the ice.
Despite the impact of the check, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety deemed it an example of “clipping” and fined Pionk the maximum amount of $5,000. Clipping is defined as deliberately making contact with an opponent’s lower body, and the league determined that Pionk’s hit intentionally targeted Boqvist’s lower half.
While some may argue that Pionk’s hit was a textbook hip check—a technique that was more common in hockey’s more physical eras, though still utilized by a few players— the Department of Player Safety has the final say. As a result, Pionk must pay the fine, which goes into the NHL Player Association’s Emergency Fund.
On the ice, Pionk has been a key contributor to the Jets’ success. Through the first 18 games, he’s averaging 21 minutes of ice time per game and has been a threat offensively, with three goals, 14 assists, and 17 points. Despite the fine, the Jets won’t need to replace him in the lineup, as he will not face a suspension.
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