Report: Dustin Byfuglien’s cross-check on Rangers’ Miller receiving ‘extra examination’ from Player Safety Dept.

Photo Credit: Bruce Fedyck/USA TODAY Sports

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety is reviewing Winnipeg Jets swingman Dustin Byfuglien’s vicious cross-check on Rangers forward J.T. Miller from Tuesday night’s game, and they’re reviewing it hard. Beyond being reviewed, the cross-check is receiving “extra examination” at the NHL’s New York office on Tuesday, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon.

Will Dustin Byfuglien receive a multi-game suspension? Might he be put on double secret probation? Let’s review after the jump.

Here’s the cross-check in question. It’s, yeah, reckless in the extreme if you’re feeling charitable. Willfully dangerous and borderline heinous, if you’re being real:

Somehow Byfuglien wasn’t penalized on the play…

New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault in discussing the cross-check following New York’s 3-2 victory on Tuesday night didn’t pull any punches.

“Violent (and) deliberate,” Vigneault said of the cross-check, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. “(It) could have broken his neck. One of the most vicious cross-checks I’ve seen this year.”

Yep.

We’ll have to wait and see, but I’d expect Byfuglien to get a game or five. Frankly if we hear tomorrow that he’ll be invited to take part in an in-person hearing – a hearing type that would permit the Department of Player Safety to suspend Byfuglien for more than five games – that wouldn’t be a shocking outcome.