(Photo: Ikeastan/Bridget Samuels) The NHL has deemed Milan Lucic's hit Saturday night on Sabres goalie Ryan Miller was not suspension worthy

After a telephone conference this afternoon with Brendan Shanahan the NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations it has been deemed Milan Lucic will not be suspended. Shanahan came to this conclusion due to a “lack of intent”

Lucic blocked a shot in the defensive zone and raced after the loose puck as it glided down the ice towards Miller. With just the puck between him and Lucic, Miller left his crease to play the puck, that’s when Miller was, ran over by Lucic popping his helmet off and sending him flying through the Garden air.

Miller finished the remainder of the period and played the entire second, but was nowhere to be found in the final frame of Saturday’s contest as Jhonas Enroth replaced Miller between the pipes.

It was announced Sunday afternoon that Miller suffered a concussion due to the Lucic hit and there is no timetable for his return.

“The minor penalty called on the ice was the correct call,” Shanahan said. “And, while it’s unfortunate that Miller was hurt I saw nothing egregious about this hit that would elevate it to supplemental discipline.”

As nice is it is to not loose Lucic for a game or two, it does leave a black could hovering over the NHL. By not suspending Lucic for at least a game, it gives players an open invitation to run over a goalie whenever they feel like doing so, putting NHL goalies in danger.

Yes NHL goalies have more padding then anyone else on the ice, yes they are large athletic men, but a 6-foot 200-pound defensemen plowing into an unexpected defensive goalie is not a good thing for anyone involved.

A game where players can skate around at will barreling into goalies whenever they please will make a mockery out of the game we all love.

The Bruins travel to Buffalo a week from this Wednesday.  If I’m Tim Thomas, or Tuukka Rask I’m keeping my head up at all times, but hey, that’s just me

Here is the Lucic hit on Miller:

Here is Milan Lucic’s comments post game:

And finally here are Ryan Miller’s comments post game:(expletives can be heard)