Islanders’ Matt Martin suspended one game for kneeing Trevor Daley

According to the NHL, the kneeing penalty that got Matt Martin kicked out of the New York Islanders’ game and put Dallas Stars defenseman Trevor Daley out on Tuesday was a bumbling, awkward collision by a player unfortunately trying to complete his check.

And it’ll cost Martin another game.

From the NHL:

New York Islanders forward Matt Martin has been suspended for one game, without pay, for kneeing Dallas Stars defenseman Trevor Daley during NHL Game No. 948 in Dallas on Tuesday, March 3, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 1:48 of the first period. Martin was assessed a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Martin will forfeit $5,376.34. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

After the game, a 3-2 OT win for Dallas, coach Lindy Ruff estimated Daley would be done for “weeks” and called for a ban on Martin.

“That’s a suspension.  It’s another stupid hit that makes you just shake your head.  We’ve already lost our best forward [Seguin] and now we’ve lost probably our best defenseman for a period of time on a play that just wasn’t necessary,” he said.

Basically, the NHL agreed, although it’s clear that this is one of those “hockey plays gone bad” with the onus on Martin to not have delivered the hit.

There wasn’t necessarily malice there – although that probably won’t mean anything to Stars fans wondering why the loss of Daley only garnered a one-game ban.