Flyers’ Tony DeAngelo suspended two games for spearing Lightning’s Corey Perry

When one famously prickly on-ice personality clashes with another, the results are often predictably unpleasant. That was the case Tuesday night when Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo mixed it up with Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Corey Perry during the Lightning’s 5-2 home victory.

During a post-whistle scrum, DeAngelo crept up to Perry seemingly unnoticed and jabbed him with his stick in a sensitive area. Yes, that sensitive area. The Lightning players immediately swarmed DeAngelo in retaliation. He received a five-minute major for spearing and a game misconduct.

On Wednesday morning, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that DeAngelo would have a hearing for the incident. On Wednesday afternoon, the DOPS announced a two-game suspension for DeAngelo:

Given the clarity of the footage available and the context – it came in the dying minutes of a game in which the perpetrator’s team was down by multiple goals – it was an open and shut case.

DeAngelo didn’t qualify as a repeat offender under the collective bargaining agreement but did have a rap sheet. He was suspended in 2017 for physical abuse of an official. He was also fined in 2021 for embellishment. DeAngelo was also suspended twice during his major junior career for violating the OHL policy on the use of abusive, racist and homophobic language.

DeAngelo, 27, is in the first season of two-year, $10 million contract he signed with the Flyers last summer after they acquired him from the Carolina Hurricanes. He has been a productive offensive defenseman as usual, racking up 10 goals and 34 points in 59 games on a team destined to miss the playoffs. But his behavior Tuesday night raised the eyebrows of fiery coach John Tortorella.

“I want him to have that personality, that competitiveness,” Tortorella told reporters after the game. “A couple of guys did sit, I wish a little of that would rub off on them. But again, I haven’t seen it, but I think he may have crossed the line. You’ve got to be careful.”