NEW YORK — Blindside hits will no longer be tolerated by the NHL.
The executive board of the players’ union voted Thursday to accept a new temporary rule that will ban hits to the head against unsuspecting players. The decision takes effect immediately.
“We believe this is the right thing to do for the game and for the safety of our players,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. “The elimination of these types of hits should significantly reduce the number of injuries, including concussions, without adversely affecting the level of physicality in the game.”
The rule prohibits “lateral, back-pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact.”
The league will have the power to review such hits and apply further discipline.
The rule is in effect through this year’s playoffs. The competition committee is expected to meet during the summer to create a permanent rule that also will include an on-ice penalty instead of solely punishment after the fact.
Carter to have surgery
PHILADELPHIA — Flyers leading scorer Jeff Carter is having surgery on his broken left foot and hopes to be back in time for the playoffs.
Carter, who will have a screw placed in the foot today, is expected to miss three or four weeks.
Booth hospitalized
MONTREAL — Panthers forward David Booth was to spend the night in a Montreal hospital for precautionary reasons after he left Florida’s 4-1 loss to the Canadiens when he was flattened by Jaroslav Spacek’s open-ice shoulder check to the head.
“He’s coherent, he’s alert — the tests have come back negative, in a positive sense, so to speak,” said GM Randy Sexton, who said he expects Booth will travel with the team to Ottawa today.
Booth, who missed 45 games after he suffered a concussion on Mike Richards’ blindside hit in Philadelphia on Oct. 24, lay face down on the ice after Spacek’s hit 1:10 into the second. A blood stain remained on the ice after Booth was helped to the dressing room. The Associated Press
