Earlier today, the Nashville Predators announced that forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn had been suspended for breaking team rules, and would be sitting out for Game 3.
This bold move comes after back-to-back losses to the Phoenix Coyotes, putting the Predators down 2-0 in the series.
The Predators, for a number of years now, have been one of the most defensive-oriented teams in the NHL. However, in the first two games in second round, they've let in an uncharacteristic nine goals.
In a series where the Predators are getting out-played offensively, one might wonder how they can justify benching the team's two leading point scorers. Or one might wonder if they're the reason the team is struggling defensively?
While that theory could make sense for Radulov, who's minus-3 in the series, it doesn't fit for the plus-1 Kostitsyn. So that theory can be taken off the table, as it really does appear that this suspension was for off-ice reasons only.
But is it worth it? It it reasonable to justify on-ice discipline for off-ice actions at this point of the season?
This isn't t ...
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Article written by Riley Kufta
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