NHL Has Every Right to Suspend Blues' Ivan Barbashev for Illegal Check on Bruins' Marcus Johansson

Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals was defined by a series of controversial missed calls. One of these missed calls was directly followed by the Blues' game-winning goal. The worst of them all, however, came on a hit on Boston's Marcus Johansson by Blues forward Ivan Barbashev.

As Johansson fired a puck towards the net, Barbashev came charging in and threw his elbow and shoulder towards Johansson's head. Although Johansson went down due to the hit, he was not seriously injured and remained in the game. Now, Barbashev could face supplemental discipline from the league, and it's safe to say it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he does.

Barbashev wasn't assessed a penalty on the hit despite making clear contact with Johansson's head. Typically, a hit that targets the opposing player's head is an easy call for officials and is usually followed by additional discipline from the Department of Player Safety.

If the league decides to suspend Barbashev for the hit, it would likely only be for one game which would take the 23-year-old forward out of the potential series-clinching Game 6. If he is suspended, there isn't much of an argument that the Blues or their fans can make.

The NHL has a tough decision ahead of them, but in any case this hit should've been called a penalty. Barbashev clearly makes contact with the head of Johansson and it seems as though that was his intent.

Barbashev's hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety will go down Friday afternoon. With officials under heavy scrutiny for their performance in Game 5, it will be interesting to see how the league handles one of their many missed calls.