I loved the hip checks. Used them a lot when I played. It can still be a dangerous play with the current speed of the game. But I don't think I've seen them called a penalty... Not unless a leg is stuck out too. A clean hip check still goes uncalled.
I didn't say it was dirty. I even went so far as to say it wasn't dirty. But there was contact to the face/head, and refs will call that every time these days. I don't think he should have gotten the game misconduct, either. A minor for roughing would have sufficed. As soon as the refs see the head whip, and the helmet move, they instantly look at it as contact to the head, which the NHL is trying to do away with.
Again, you can't deny that his shoulder hits Aho in the chin. It's obvious if you're not blind. Head down or not, you have to avoid the head/face. If Gio gets a little lower, he lights him up with a hit directly to the chest, and it's not even a talking point/issue. The minute Gio's shoulder contacts the chin of Aho, it's a penalty every time. And for good reason.
As far as a player bending over to look for the puck, they typically don't call it when a guy puts himself in that position. Or if they do, there's never any supplemental discipline. That's a huge factor when it comes to the NHL's policy on hitting. If the player puts himself in a vulnerable position, it is always taken into account.
