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My take on the incident in Game 3 of the Pittsburgh vs. Washington series: The National Hockey League made the right call in not suspending Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen for the play that concussed Penguins superstar center Sidney Crosby.

I don't watch games through the eyes of a fan or media member who is selling sensationalism. I see plays through the eyes of a referee and league disciplinarian with a professional playing background. Here's what I looked at when I watched the Niskanen - Crosby hit.

Yes, Niskanen has his stick up. However, watch his posture and his actions. His feet are spread wide apart. There's no thrust with the stick. He is just holding it there. This is consistent with Niskanen's claim that he was braced for an inevitable collision and there was no intent to catch Crosby up in the head. THe part that strikes Crosby is at angle but at his chest height. In super slow-motion, it looks worse but at actual speed, which is even faster when you are on the ice, there was no avoiding contact in this situation.

In fact, if Crosby had not gotten tangled up first with Alex Ovechkin, whose skate made contact with the back of Crosby's skate and then whose stick bonked the Penguins' center atop his helmet, the rest of the sequence would have been rather unremarkable. As it unfolded, it is fair to say that the two Caps could have been penalized with the Penguins receiving a 5-on-3 power play. As it was, the Pens received a five-minute power play and Niskanen got a game misconduct.

I am OK with the decisions that were made. I don't see this incident as anything in the realm of Gary Suter's infamous head-high crosscheck on Paul Kariya, where Suter drove his stick forcefully into Kariya's head. The right decision here was no suspension for Niskanen. That said, I understand why the Penguins were upset. The outcome of the play was one that no one wants to see.

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Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.

Today, Stewart serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.

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