The Ottawa Senators are running out of time in their first-round playoff series, trailing the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 after a tough 2-1 loss in Game 3 on Thursday. Amid Ottawa’s struggles, attention has shifted to the controversy surrounding Taylor Hall and the punishment, or lack of it, for his hit on Jake Sanderson.
Senators Owner Questions Discipline on Hall
The incident occurred in the second period of Game 3 when Hall came in on the forecheck as Sanderson moved the puck behind his own net. Hall’s shoulder appeared to make direct contact with Sanderson’s head, knocking off the defenseman’s helmet.
Video replays only added to the scrutiny, appearing to show clear shoulder-to-head contact. Despite that, Hall was assessed only a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head.
Senators head coach Travis Green was furious that the play was not reviewed for a major or match penalty. The frustration only grew when the NHL’s Department of Player Safety opted not to schedule a hearing for Hall, meaning no suspension or fine followed.
That decision drew criticism from Senators owner Michael Andlauer, who didn’t hold back. “One should have control of their body the same way they have control of their stick,” Andlauer told the Ottawa Citizen. “It’s ridiculous that you get four minutes for a high stick to the face that draws blood, but only two minutes for a direct shot to the head that draws a concussion.”
The hit carried even bigger consequences when Sanderson was diagnosed with a concussion and ruled out for Game 4. “He’s not doing very well. Won’t play tomorrow,” Green said Friday.
While Hall has said the contact was unintentional, the Senators have remained outspoken about what they view as a lack of accountability.
Green said he was stunned the officials didn’t assess a major penalty in real time. “I was shocked that there wasn’t a major, especially surprised there wasn’t some kind of talk about something… I’d be shocked if there wasn’t any supplementary discipline in this event. It’s a blatant shot to the head.”
The controversy now hangs over an already desperate moment for Ottawa. The Senators head into Game 4 facing elimination, trailing 3-0 in the series and now potentially without one of their top defensemen.
That alone makes the Hall hit even more significant.
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Whether the controversy surrounding Hall’s hit adds extra fuel to the Senators remains to be seen, but the stakes and frustration have clearly never been higher.
