Maxim Lapierre Should Be Suspended

Tonight's Sharks-Blues game was a battle of the unbeatens. However, that was marred when Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle was taken off the ice on a stretcher after a hit from behind by Blues forward Maxim Lapierre.

Boyle was injured in the first period when he pursued the puck along the boards and Lapierre hit him from behind there. His face hit the glass and his lip on the boards.

Lapierre was ejected for the hit, and for the next five minutes of a Sharks power play, they scored twice en route to a 6-2 win that allowed them to remain undefeated. The Blues dropped to 4-1.

This hit was in the wake of Patrick Kaleta's suspension of 10 games by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan for a head hit against Jack Johnson of the Blue Jackets. Since Lapierre hit him from behind square in the middle means that Lapierre might be getting a call from Shanahan. He has been suspended before for four games in March 2010, for a late hit on then-Shark Scott Nichol.

Lapierre is not a repeat offender because it has been past 12 months since he last got suspended for a hit. But this was a dirty play like his last one. He made no effort to get to the puck and only wanted to crush Boyle's head in. Lapierre has been known as a dirty player at times, so it will not be surprising if he gets suspended for his. My guess on the number of games if he gets suspended: 4-5 games. Most likely 5. He's not a repeat offender but his past actions might convince Shanahan that he might sit him out for more games.