Flyers

Jake Voracek Suspended Two Games Because the NHL Makes No Sense

By Russ Joy

Published: Mar 11th, 2019 · 11:59 AM EDT

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The Flyers’ playoff bus just got a flat and the nail that punctured the tire’s name is George Parros.

Flyers forward Jake Voracek was suspended two games by the NHL after the league’s Player Safety Committee reviewed an interference call that occurred in Saturday’s 5-2 drubbing of the New York Islanders. Of course, Islanders fans cried foul, claiming Voracek targeted the head of defenseman Johnny Boychuk, while Flyers fans argued Voracek was merely bracing for impact.

It’s a critical loss for a team that finds itself five points out of the final wild card spot with fourteen games to play. Voracek and Nolan Patrick both made it back into the lineup for Saturday’s game, combining for a goal and two assists. Losing one of the team’s alternate captains – he’s posted seven points (1 goal/6 assists) since that announcement – of late isn’t ideal. That said, the team should be able to overcome his absence tonight against the Ottawa Senators. Thursday’s game against the Washington Capitals is a different story.

A video of the NHL’s explanation of what warranted the two-game suspension after the jump:

Head coach Scott Gordon ripped the league’s decision and compared it to a hit on Nolan Patrick that earned New Jersey Devils’ forward Kurtis Gabriel just a one-game suspension, claiming the latter was more severe.

Your thoughts? We report, you decide.

😂😂😂😂😂

— Jakub Voracek (@jachobe) March 10, 2019

Side note:

Head coach Scott Gordon confirmed this morning that Brian Elliott will start tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators with wunderkind Carter Hart healthy enough to serve as his backup.