I mean... Peter Baugh (apparently covers the Rangers) on the Marek show called it borderline. Said he didn't mean to target the head and it wasn't close to being worthy of game misconduct or suspension. He did say that Panarin and Oshie certainly had something going so basically implied that it was targeted. Messier on ESPN said ''you can argue both ways'', didn't seem to think it was suspension -worthy (shocker, right?).
Subban on the other hand flat out said that there is head contact, and that it's suspension if it's anyone other than Artemi Panarin. He also said that he's been hit that way and he thinks those are part of the game but said that if you are trying to take head hits out of the game, this is definitely suspension because you can't argue how there isn't head contact. Also mentioned that if it's regular season Panarin would likely have been suspended too. So basically, we got boned.
I don't mind it, to be honest. I want the rest of the series to be chippy, especially since we are heading back home for the next 2. For this to not be a sweep they are going to need a spark. There really isn't any better spark that you can ask for than the other teams midget star throwing a questionable hit and avoiding suspension. If that doesn't wake you up to fight, then they are either just flat out soft or have ran out of gas completely. I'm hopeful and i think they are going to respond and take game 3.