Rangers coach Vigneault not happy about Byfuglien cross-check on Miller

With 2:39 left in the 2nd period the Rangers J.T. Miller tried to pull a puck past Ondrej Pavelec but was unable to do so. As Miller was falling to the ice he gave Pavelec a slash to the pads while aiming for the puck in front of defenceman Dustin Byfuglien who, in turn, delivered a pretty vicious cross-check to the neck of the Rangers forward.

Photo Credit: Devon Eadie

While Byfuglien didn’t speak to the media following the Jets 3-2 loss, Rangers bench boss Alain Vigneault didn’t hold back when asked in the post-game scrum about the hit. He called it “Violent. Deliberate. Could have broken his neck.  I don’t know what is going to happen but it was one of the most viscous cross-checks I’ve seen this year.”

Here is the video of the hit:

What do you think?  Will or should #33 receive a call from the NHL Department of Player Safety?  Interestingly referee Dan O’Rourke was right behind Byfuglien and didn’t call a penalty on the play.  What do you think?

Update:  The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Dustin Byfuglien will have a hearing for his hit on Miller on Thursday.  It will be a phone hearing for #33 at 10:30 am.  Since it is a phone hearing the most Byfuglien could be suspended is five games. (18.8 of the CBA).