NHL hits Bruins winger A.J. Greer with suspension

The NHL Department of Player Safety made a quick ruling on the Bruins’ A.J. Greer on Friday evening, as they hit the B’s winger with a one-game suspension for his cross-checking dust-up Montreal’s Mike Hoffman in the first period of Thursday’s victory over the Canadiens.

Hit with a five-minute major and a game misconduct, Greer’s lack of history on the supplemental discipline front didn’t help him escape this incident with a fine and nothing more.

“It is important to note that this is not a case of a stick directed towards the body that rides up the opponent,” the NHL Department of Player Safety explained in their video summarizing Greer’s suspension. “This cross-check is delivered cleanly to the head of Hoffman. And while we understand Greer’s assertion that he does not intend to strike Hoffman in this manner, players are responsible for their stick at all times.

“This is a careless crosscheck delivered during a stoppage in play that strikes an opponent at a dangerous height with the force necessary to warrant supplemental discipline.”

Greer will also forfeit $4,121.62 in salary as part of his punishment. That money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund, according to the NHL.

Not everybody was satisfied with Greer’s punishment, however, as Hoffman took to his Instagram account to air his grievances with the NHL ‘DoPS’ for their handling of the incident.

“So, I’ve gotten a two-game suspension for crosschecking a guy in the back of the helmet,” Hoffman said in a recorded video. “A full-blown, intentional crosscheck to the face… one game. Hmm.”

As a result of his suspension, Greer will miss Saturday’s home tilt against the Lightning, but is eligible to return to action Sunday when the Bruins travel down to Carolina for a showdown with the Hurricanes.

Speaking after Thursday’s win, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery talked about the balance that energy players like Greer need to find this time of year as tensions and emotions rise.

“We talk about playing with emotion, which is great, but not getting emotional,” Montgomery said. “Unfortunately, Greersy, his stick rode up – I don’t know if it rode up his stick, his shoulder pad – it cut him. It’s something we can learn from, because you can’t take those kinds of penalties in the playoffs.”

The 6-foot-3 Greer has set career-highs in games (52), goals (five), points (11), and hits (94) this season.