The bottom line on Tie Domi's incredibily gutless cheap shot on Scott Niedermayer simply is this: If Niedermayer can't play, the Devils will be easier to beat. Period.

Yes, Domi must be suspended. And, suspended to the fullest extent of the NHL's law... whatever that is. (I'm still trying to figure out why Doug Weight wasn't suspended for his vicious blindside hit on Richard Matvichuk way back in the first round.)

Regardless, even a genius like Domi can figure out that Niedermayer is far more important to the Devils than Domi is to the Leafs.

Last year, with Niedermayer, Brian Rafalski and Vladimir Malakhov on the backline, the Devils had three puck-moving defensemen. Coach Larry Robinson paired each man with a physical, stay-at-home D-man (Niedermayer with Ken Daneyko, Rafalski with Scott Stevens, and Malakhov with Colin White). That kind of balance and depth made it very difficult to forecheck the Devils. And, when you're hard to forecheck, you're usually hard to beat -- because the puck doesn't stay in your zone for very long.

In last year's playoffs, whenever there was chaos in the Devils' zone, Niedermayer or Rafalski or Malakhov could move the puck out of danger.

This spring, Malakhov is gone, having left via free agency. That leaves Niedermayer and Rafalski. At the trade deadline, there was some talk the Devs would add another puckmoving blueliner. Instead, though, they added Sean O'Donnell, a stay-at-home banger.

Now, if Niedermayer can't continue in this series -- which is tied, 2-2 -- Rafalski will be alone. Thus, an easier target. The Devils' less-skilled defensemen will have to handle the puck more often. And, as any coach will tell you, less-skilled defensemen handling the puck in their own end equals one thing -- turnovers.

Without Niedermayer, the Leafs will have a great chance to pin the Devils deep in their own end and create more scoring chances. In other words, they'll have a better chance to win.

The Leafs without Domi? Despite the fact that he played a solid game (with linemates Darcy Tucker and Shayne Corson) prior to suffering a severe brain cramp, he can be replaced. And, if Niedermayer can't play, Domi will have had far more impact on the series than his marginal ability should have allowed.

E.J. Hradek covers hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.