Major suspension potentially incoming after terrible knee-on-knee hit

The New York Islanders winger was handed a five-minute major for a brutal knee-on-knee hit on the Edmonton Oilers forward during Saturday's game at UBS Arena, and the play is certain to draw a close look from the league.

NHL Rule 50 defines kneeing as a player leading with his knee, and officials can call a minor or a major based on severity.

A major for kneeing also carries an automatic game misconduct, so Heineman's afternoon should have ended right there.

Player Safety tends to focus on plays that injure an opponent, and a knee-on-knee collision that leaves a player hurt checks that box.

At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, Heineman plays a physical bottom-six role, which could shape how the league views the contact.

Howard, 22, arrived in Edmonton from Tampa Bay in exchange for prospect Sam O'Reilly and has been fighting for a bigger role on the fourth line.

An injury now would be another setback for an Oilers team already stretched thin, with Zach Hyman on injured reserve with a neck injury and at least 10 different players having missed time this season.

Edmonton entered the game at 9-2-2, and the severity of Howard's injury will determine whether the club needs reinforcements from Bakersfield.

For Heineman, the next step is waiting to see whether Player Safety schedules a hearing or hands down a fine or suspension.

The Islanders entered at 7-4-2 and are already without Mathew Barzal, Alexander Romanov, Matias Maccelli and Calum Ritchie, with Ryan Pulock listed as day-to-day. Losing another forward to a suspension would only deepen their injury problems.

Fans will be watching closely, because the league often weighs the injury to the victim when deciding supplemental discipline.

If Howard is forced to miss significant time, the pressure on Player Safety to act decisively will only grow. We will update this story as the NHL and both clubs provide more information.

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