<p>On Friday, the <a href="https://www.nhl.com/video/topic/player-safety/tsyplakov-suspended-three-games-6367255268112">NHL Department of Player Safety announced</a> that <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-islanders/line-combinations">New York Islanders</a> forward Maxim Tsyplakov has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head on <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/line-combinations">Philadelphia Flyers</a> forward Ryan Poehling.</p>



<p>The incident happened during the first period of a contest between the two teams on Thursday night. Poehling was driving the net and took a shot on goal. During his follow-through, he was caught with a high hit from a backchecking Tsyplakov, sending the 26-year-old spiraling to the ice.</p>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ryan Poehling takes a high hit from Maxim Tsyplakov and is very slow to leave the ice 🤕<br><br>The hit was reviewed and there was no penalty on the play. <a href="https://t.co/9XTr8E0XVN">pic.twitter.com/9XTr8E0XVN</a></p>— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1880057275056107859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>Flyers forward Joel Farabee came over to confront Tsyplakov, taking a slashing penalty on the play. Poehling ended up leaving the game after the hit. Teammate Scott Laughton was also fined $5,000 for cross-checking Tsyplakov late in regulation.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="151"></div>



<p>Officials reviewed the play to determine if there was a major penalty. However, it was deemed there was no penalty on the play. The Flyers went on to win the game 5-3, extending the team’s point streak to four games.</p>



<p>The hit is bad for a couple of reasons, the big one being that Poehling has a history of concussions. Heading into his rookie season with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/montreal-canadiens/line-combinations">Montreal Canadiens</a> in 2019, the former St. Cloud State suffered a concussion in training camp. He’s also had several other upper-body injuries throughout his NHL career.</p>



<p>Tsyplakov has never had any supplemental discipline so far in his NHL career. Granted, the undrafted Russian winger <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/islanders-sign-top-euro-ufa-maxim-tsyplakov-to-one-year-contract">was signed to a one-year contract</a> last May. In 44 games so far this season, the 26-year-old has scored seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points, placing him eighth on the team in scoring.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="146"></div>



<p>The Islanders (17-20-7) are last in the Metropolitan Division, eight points behind the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/boston-bruins/line-combinations">Boston Bruins</a> for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.</p>
