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Emil Lilleberg suspended two games for hit on J.T. Compher

Jan 21, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

While it wasn’t a forgone conclusion that Emil Lilleberg was going to be suspended for his hit on J.T. Compher, there was a strong likelihood that the NHL’s Wheel of Justice would land on at least a game.l The only mystery would revolve around how long Lilleberg’s would eventually be. We know the answer – two games.

Lilleberg will miss the Lightning’s game tomorrow against Chicago and Thursday’s contest against Los Angeles. The 23-year-old will also lose out on $9,062.50 – which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

As they do with all suspensions, the Department of Player Safety released a video explaining their ruling.

The first point they made was confirming that Lilleberg committed a penalty, interference, which they defined as “contact made outside the window where a check may be legally finished”.

He was penalized during the game for interference, and the league confirmed that it was indeed the correct call. On its own, interference doesn’t warrant a suspension. Hence, the second, and key explanation that they provided when they determined, “what causes this hit to rise to the level of supplemental discipline is the significant head contact on this play and the force”.

Lilleberg might have received a harsher punishment if the league had ruled that Lilleberg’s principle point of contact was with the head, but it seems that wasn’t the case. However, there was plenty of contact with his shoulder to the head of Compher. Honestly, it was somewhat surprising that the officials on the ice didn’t rule it a major during the game. We’ve seen officials immediately rule similar hits as majors, just so that they can review it.

The Norwegian’s lack of previous fines or suspensions also helped his cause. DoPS also mentioned that Compher sustained an injury on the play and is listed as day-to-day.

With Lilleberg scheduled to miss the next two games, the Lightning recalled Declan Carlile.

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