1) It did not look like he got him in the head. It sure as hell wasn't the main point of contact as much as the shoulder left was.
2) Donskoi changed his course from glove side hash marks into Lemmy, who was skating straight toward the blocker side hash marks. (Then there's the ol "watch it in real time" and any one feel free to tell me what exactly you expect Lemmy to do last second in that instance. What would YOU do in that split second if someone was skating into you, looking or not? If anything it would be Donskoi turning into Lemmy to hit him blindsided, but since Donskoi was not looking, I conclude that this chalks up to incidental contact.
3) Yeah the timing did suck, but it wasn't a selfish penalty or a premeditated action at all.
What in God’s name were you watching? Hmm...maybe he had hoped not to get the shoulder but it sure looked like he got a piece of the head, a good piece in fact.
You’re whole #2 point should just be flushed down the toilet where it belongs. Regardless of what Donskoi did (which really didnt happen) Lemieux is still in the wrong. It was a terrible decision by Lemieux. Arguing what Donskoi did after he released a shot is laughable. Laughable. The game is so fast paced and you’re here trying to make an argument that Donskoi did all these maneuvers that puts him partially in the wrong here. Its just unreal to even read that. The link is above for everyone. Go watch it a few times. Please. Its as stupid as a hit as you can get and it is widely known the league has been adamant about removing these type of hits.
Lemieux is backchecking here. The play is in FRONT OF HIM. What nonsense are you spewing that Lemmy somehow had no choice but to “collide” with him here in the “split second” that Donskoi was “skating into” Lemmy.
It is 100% a BLINDSIDE HIT. It was calculated. It was wrong.
Calling it incidental contact is ignorant. Timing absolutely DID SUCK. He didnt have to do it. His team was down a goal under 3 minutes to go. That is one of the more selfish penalties taken by any Ranger this season especially given the context of everything, where the season stood...regardless of the impending suspension of the season due to the virus.
I love Lemieux. He has a place on this team. He shouldnt be playing in certain situations DQ continues to pigeonhole him into, but he has a place on this team that fits a role. This was a poor decision by him that if the season does resume could lead to a multiple game suspension when his team needs him.