Throat-slash gestures are taken very seriously by the NHL, which last month levied maximum fines against Toronto’s Nazem Kadri and Anaheim’s Josh Manson for their unsavory pantomimes that inflicted no damage on anyone.
But actual throat slashes with a hockey stick that injure an opponent? Well, that’s a horse of a different color?
Or should we say, Penguin?
For when the ironically named Department of Player Safety took up Kris Letang’s chop across Viktor Stalberg’s throat/jaw that knocked out three of the Ranger winger’s teeth at 7:12 of the third period in Pittsburgh’s 3-1 Game 3 victory at the Garden on Tuesday, league executives went into contortions to find the way not to suspend (or discipline in any manner) one of the Penguins’ most important players.