Cross-checks to the head are worse than glove punches to the same region. I hope Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh returns from a concussion soon because he's a special player. But the punch he absorbed from the Flyers' Wayne Simmonds on Feb. 6 was not as dangerous as the cross-check that he delivered.
I'm not saying McDonagh got what he deserved. But I deem Simmonds' response on the play acceptable under the circumstances, and the NHL got it right with the penalties they ultimately levied. McDonagh was given cross-checking and slashing minors and Simmonds a game misconduct.
The play: McDonagh tried protecting himself from a check against the boards by raising his stick to Simmonds' face.