Bold claim: a five-minute major for a hit from behind was the right call, even if the game still felt within reach for a comeback. The incident involved Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin delivering a hit on Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras late in the second period, which led to a chaotic scramble behind the Sabres’ net. Dahlin received a five-minute major and a game misconduct, and Zegras remained in the game as the Flyers eventually won 5-2.
Here’s the context: the NHL’s Eastern Conference is tightly packed, with every team still alive in the playoff race just after Thanksgiving. That high-stakes atmosphere tends to bring intensity, and Thursday night’s Flyers-Sabres matchup delivered on that front. The Sabres had opened the scoring, but the Flyers surged with three goals—two on power plays—in less than a minute, followed by two more in the second period and a Sabres strike to make it 5-2.
The key moment came when Dahlin, in a backcheck, drove Zegras into the boards from behind. The play sparked immediate controversy and a lengthy review, culminating in the game misconduct and the five-minute major against Dahlin. Zegras was not penalized further and stayed in the game.
Was the call correct? There’s a solid argument for a major penalty given the hit from behind, which many viewers considered dangerous. That said, some observers believe the incident could have drawn only a two-minute minor for such contact if it hadn’t escalated into a boarding-like situation. TNT analyst Brian Boucher suggested the outcome could have spiraled if Dahlin had remained on the ice, hinting at the potential for more trouble on the ice.
Ultimately, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported there would be no supplemental discipline from the league, meaning no further punishment beyond the on-ice penalties. The Department of Player Safety has sparked debate before, but in this case, the ruling aligned with the severity of the act and the immediate consequences on the game.
If there’s a forthcoming rematch to watch, December 18 looms as a likely focal point for Flyers fans and players alike. It wouldn’t be surprising to see lingering tension between Philadelphia and Buffalo—this is exactly the kind of play that sticks in a rivalry’s memory and fuels a bigger response when the teams meet again.
