The NHL seems to be taking a stronger stance on player safety this year as we have seen multiple lengthy suspensions handed out. On the other hand though, there have still been a number of questionable plays that have gone without suspensions. Today though we saw another suspension handed out as Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson received a one-game suspension for instigating. <h2>Gudbranson Gets One-Game Suspension For Dirty Play On Cousins</h2> The NHL Department of Player Safety announced today that Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson has received a one-game suspension for instigating on Panthers forward Nick Cousins. The veteran blueliner was also ejected from the game early after the play. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1733945542890103069'> </a></blockquote></div> All of this came after Cousins made a dirty in on Gudbranson. The officials initially gave Cousins a major penalty on the play, but later reduced it to a minor after review. Gudbranson was not a fan of this move. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/heatdaddy69420/status/1733940143487422921'> </a></blockquote></div> That being said, players must keep their cool in situations like these. The league noted this in their official statement about the suspension. <q>While we acknowledge that frustration, players are not excused from grossly violating league rules in retribution or retaliation for hits thrown on them, legal or otherwise.</q> This whole situation could have been avoided by upholding the initial call of a major penalty, but hindsight is 20/20. As seen on <a href='https://www.bladeofsteel.com/Player-Safety-Sends-Message-with-Erik-Gudbranson-Ruling?fbclid=IwAR1Y6-E2KsgK_WWC9JSY4btwONCQf2TGqUirmtcfbOsvzqZVomuHyOOH0nM' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Player Safety Sends Message with Erik Gudbranson Ruling</a>