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Tyler Myers says cross-check suspension would be ‘a joke’

Tyler Myers did a stupid thing.

The Winnipeg Jets were down 2-1 in the third period against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night. Tommy Wingels of the Sharks took a run at Myers and hit him, legally. Myers took offense to that, and … well, let’s say it wasn’t a measured response.

Myers cross-checked Wingels in the neck, sending him to the ice. The Jets defenseman was whistled for a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Wingels would skate two more shifts in the third period.

After the game, Myers owned up to the penalty, if not the severity. And he didn’t think the NHL would be calling him on it. From Global News:

Myers admitted he lost his temper and deserved a penalty but thought the major penalty call was excessive.

“It was a penalty.” Myers said. “I’m not going to deny that. I’d argue about the five (minute penalty). Either way it’s a penalty I shouldn’t have taken.

”The league has cracked down on head shots in recent months but Myers doesn’t believe his penalty warrants a phone call from the league or any further discipline. “I think it’s a joke if I get a phone call from the league.” said Myers.

On a night the Jets were frustrated by the officiating – they had 35 minutes in penalties to 16 for the Sharks – things would only get more frustrating when an apparent shorthanded goal by Blake Wheeler, while killing off the Myers penalty, was cancelled out by a tripping call on Alex Stalock.

From Global News, Wheeler was not pleased:

“I got penalized for the goalie making a horse [poo] play.” Wheeler said. “He puts himself in a bad spot. I’m just looking all puck there and he knows he’s in a bad spot. He losses the puck in the corner. I make a turn. I can be man enough and admit if I slew footed him. Take a look at my left foot. It’s turning right the whole way. It never moves in his direction.”

The Jets would give up a power-play goal 1:47 later, and go on to lose to the Sharks, 4-1.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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