Winnipeg Jets defenceman Neal Pionk feeling remorseful for hit on Rasmus Sandin

It was just over one week ago that the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs engaged in a feisty battle in Manitoba's capital. Both teams combined for 51 penalty minutes, but it will be remembered for two non-calls that resulted in multi-game suspensions.

Jets defenceman Neal Pionk went knee-on-knee with Maple Leafs defenceman Rasmus Sandin. Pionk, as mentioned, received no penalty on the play, while Sandin was forced to leave the game and is now on injured reserve. Pionk was suspended for two games and missed a third game with concussion-like symptoms after he was kneed in the head by Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza. For his part, Spezza was suspended six games, and will have his appeal heard tomorrow.

On Monday, Pionk spoke with reporters and said that he was in the wrong during that hit on Sandin and that he had no intent of injuring him.

"Listen, I'm not out there to hurt anybody or have any sort of intent. It made me sick watching (Sandin) go off the ice, and he's limping off the ice," said Pionk.

He added, "He's a great young defenceman, I never want to cut his career short, even by a game. So there's remorse there, and definitely not the intent on the hit. I understand that what I did wasn't right, and I've accepted that. I'm just looking forward to getting back."

In Pionk's absence, the Winnipeg Jets went 1-1-1 with a win over Seattle, loss to Carolina, and an overtime loss to Vancouver. The 26-year-old is likely to return to Winnipeg's lineup on Tuesday night vs the Buffalo Sabres.

"No, I can't change it, 100 per cent. But at the same time I have to learn my lesson,» Pionk said. «I think that's the biggest thing about giving a hit like that and serving a suspension. You have to learn from your mistakes. I got to learn to pick my spots better and make clean body contact. I tried everything I could to lead with my shoulder. Obviously I didn't and what happened, happened."

The Omaha, Nebraska native has appeared in twenty-four games for the Jets this season where he's tallied sixteen points (two goals, fourteen assists), fourteen penalty minutes, and is a plus-four.

Source: Sportsnet.

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