Gary Bettman thumbs his nose at David Perron, Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron earned himself a hefty six-game suspension after he did what just about any concerned teammate would do, though he did unfortunately target the incorrect player.

While his captain in Dylan Larkin was completely motionless on the ice and appeared to be in extreme distress, Perron would strike back at who he thought was responsible for Larkin's ailment with a cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators Artum Zub. Incidentally, it was yet another targeted hit to the back of Larkin's head from Senators forward Mathieu Joseph that caused the injury, along with his collision with Ottawa's Patrick Kelly.

Once again, Joseph faced zero additional discipline for injuring Larkin; he also inexplicably escaped any punishment from the NHL after he boarded Larkin from behind while a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021. 

For his actions, Perron was given a match penalty and ejected from the game; he would be suspended for six games by the NHLDPS, which has come under considerable scrutiny for their inconsistent rulings with many similar past incidents. 

Not that it matters now that it's officially been a total of six games and that he's eligible to return tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers, but NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman officially upheld Perron's suspension. 

From the official press release: 

"National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman today affirmed the six-game suspension that was assessed to Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron for cross-checking Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub during NHL Game No. 412 in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Commissioner Bettman heard Perron’s appeal of the original decision, assessed Dec. 11, at a hearing on Dec. 19.

The incident occurred at 13:50 of the first period. Perron was assessed a match penalty."

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