2016 Stanley Cup Final: Patrick Marleau won't receive supplemental discipline

Patrick Marleau took a minor penalty in Monday's game for an illegal check to the head on Bryan Rust, but the forward won't receive any supplemental discipline. Check out the following Tweets from the NHL Department of Player Safety which explain the decision.

(1/3) Dept of Player Safety determines no Supplemental Discipline is warranted for Patrick Marleau’s hit on Bryan Rust in Game 1 of the SCF.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016

(2/3) Main points of contact: shoulders, chest. Rust low, off-balance, reaching.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016

(3/3) Marleau does not “pick” the head, elevate or extend. Head contact is with Marleau’s back.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016

At the time of the play, I didn't even think should be a penalty. Upon further replays, I get why it's called. Head contact is head contact, intentional or not, but I don't think there's anything in this play that warrants a suspension.

Here's one angle of the play in question. Marleau doesn't attempt to make a play on Rust's head and Rust keeps his head low while skating right into Marleau's back. I dunno. It's the Department of Player Safety. If this was the regular season he might have been suspended 10 games, I've long given up trying to analyze this kind of stuff.

The important thing is that it seems Rust is okay. The second-most important thing is that Marleau will get to play in game two.