Player Safety Reaches Decision on Nikita Zadorov's Hit on Auston Matthews

For the second time in the last week, Nikita Zadorov threw a questionable hit that injured a Maple Leafs forward, and the league continues to let him get away with it.

On Saturday, Zadorov caught Scott Laughton with a high hit that forced him to leave the game with a suspected concussion.

Already having missed the first month of the season, Laughton will now be out for an undetermined amount of time yet again.

In Tuesday's rematch against the Leafs, the Russian blueliner threw a very dangerous hit that sent Matthews tumbling into the boards head first.

Following the hit, the Leafs' captain appeared to be quite upset with the lack of a penalty call, and subsequently went to the dressing room and did not return for the third period of the loss.

The 2013 first-round pick managed to escape any supplemental discipline for his hit on Laughton last Saturday, which allowed him to play in Tuesday's game.

For the second time in as many games, the 6'7 defenseman was able to avoid a suspension as the NHL's Department of Player Safety remained quiet over his questionable hit on Matthews, not so much as issuing a fine on Wednesday, despite a clear precedent for those types of hits having been previously set.

Regardless of which team you cheer for, you have to admit that Zadorov's hit on Matthews was both dirty and dangerous, as well as entirely avoidable, and we have seen players suspended for such a hit in the past.

Am I surprised? Not really, given how inconsistent Player Safety has been in recent memory, but I would have expected Zadorov to receive a fine at the very least.

The two teams will not face each other again until the end of March, which means the Leafs will have to wait four months before they can even think of seeking some level of vengeance.