Dustin Byfuglien's brutal hit could cost Jets a playoff spot

Monster truck-sized defenseman Dustin Byfuglien has always had a gigantic impact on the Winnipeg Jets because of his larger-than-life presence on the ice and lighthearted approach in the dressing room.

He's a very popular with his teammates because he can keep everyone loose.

But depending on what happens in his hearing with the NHL department of player safety Thursday, Byfuglien's memory of this season might be about how he damaged his team's playoff aspirations.

With the Jets hanging on to a two-point lead in the Western Conference wild-card race, Byfuglien committed an act Tuesday that could get him suspended for multiple games with five games left in the season.

In the second period of Winnipeg's game against the New York Rangers, the 260-pound Byfuglien laid a wicked cross-check on J.T. Miller's neck to earn himself a phone hearing with discipline guru Stephane Quintal. That means a potential suspension of five or fewer games.

Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said after the game that it was one of the "most vicious cross-checks" he has seen this year, noting that Byfuglien could have broken Miller's neck.

As much as teammates like Big Buff, you know some of them have to be wondering what he was thinking when he cracked down on Miller in a clear case of excessive violence.

A look at the replay shows there was no reason for Byfuglien to use that level of force to subdue Miller. He deserves to be suspended.

Depending upon on what level of suspension that Quintal and his group lay down, this act could damage Winnipeg's playoff aspirations. The Jets were able to overcome Byfuglien's recent injury absence, going 6-3 while he nursed his wounds last month.

But here is what we know for sure: The Jets are a better team when Byfuglien is in the lineup. With his size and booming shot, he is a game-changer. He scored three goals in the first two games after his return.

The Jets have games remaining with the Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche and the Calgary Flames. These are undoubtedly the most important games the Jets have played since the team moved from Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011.

If Byfuglien is suspended and the Jets lose games because of it, Winnipeg fans will remember that Byfuglien's indefensible action hurt their team at a time when they were expecting him to carry their team.