Tyson Barrie agitated with NHL's lack of discipline for hit that "definitely" went to the head

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The NHL’s unstated message to Tyson Barrie Friday: Nothing to see here. Move on. No decapitation, no foul.

Despite being drilled in the head by a check from Nashville’s Ryan Johansen Thursday night in Game 1 of a playoff series, and despite the NHL suspending Drew Doughty the day before for a very similar looking hit, a source told BSN Denver earlier today that no hearing will take place for the Predators’ first-line center.

Barrie, who was injured by a cheap shot from Minnesota’s Matt Cooke in Game 3 of a 2014 playoff series – resulting in a seven-game suspension for Cooke – wasn’t too thrilled at the news that Johansen escaped any form of punishment.

“If those are the hits you’re allowed to make, then maybe you take one or two runs at guys that you might get away with,” Barrie said.

Barrie alternated between sounding aggrieved by the NHL’s non-action and a “What are you gonna do?” demeanor.

“I didn’t love the hit, for sure,” he said. “I didn’t see him at all coming and I thought maybe he got the head a little bit. The league has obviously decided to not take any action and that’s their call. I was shooting, and I didn’t see him coming at all. He kind of came from the side and definitely caught my head. I’m not sure if they determined whether he hit my shoulder at all first, but it’s part of the game and that’s in the league’s hands, so you can’t really control it.”

Another angle of the hit on Barriehttps://t.co/1uWrBJ7i2a

— Nathan Rudolph (@AvalancheReview) April 13, 2018

Did Barrie see the Doughty hit on Vegas’ William Carrier that will keep him in street clothes for tonight’s Kings-Golden Knights Game 2?

“I did, yeah,” Barrie said. “I don’t see a whole lot of difference, but I’m not the one making the calls, so it’s kind of irrelevant.”

According to ESPN, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety decided Johansen’s hit didn’t merit supplemental discipline because “the head wasn’t the main point of contact, and that it was a “full body hit” through the chest and shoulder. The difference between this hit and the one that earned Drew Doughty of the LA Kings a one-game suspension? Watch how William Carrier’s head snaps back before his body moves, and how Barrie’s head and body move at the same time.”

Avs coach Jared Bednar had no reaction one way or the other on the issue (maybe because he didn’t want to write a nice check out to Gary  Bettman).

NOTEBOOK

• Barrie was one of several players who chose not to skate at practice, at Bridgestone Arena. He said he’s feeling good and Bednar said he’ll ice the same lineup in Game 2.
• Goalie Spencer Martin was recalled, but Bednar said it was just to give him some time around a team in the playoffs and to be an on-ice practice goalie. Jonathan Bernier did not practice, but said he feels good and ready to go for Game 2 Saturday afternoon.
• Bernier on the crowd in Nashville, especially on the taunting it does to opposing goalies (when goals are allowed, they chant “All your fault” and point at them): “You just block it. I think it’s pretty funny. It’s their job to try to disturb you.”
• Bednar said the team will watch video of Game 1 in the afternoon, back at the team hotel.
• The Avs will bus to a team dinner Friday night in Nashville.