NEWARK, N.J. – The decision on Detroit’s Kyle Quincey has been on the books for more than 24 hours, but Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf is confused more than ever about what makes a suspension-worthy hit.

Getzlaf was still running hot Thursday in light of the NHL deciding not to mete out additional discipline to the Red Wings defenseman after being driven face-first into the glass during Tuesday night’s game at Joe Louis Arena.

Quincey’s dangerous check from behind knocked Getzlaf out of the game for several minutes and got Quincey a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct. But that was it as the league determined no hearing was warranted.

And it has Getzlaf – the NHL’s fourth-leading scorer entering Thursday and whom Jaromir Jagr called the league most valuable player to this point – more than miffed with the Department of Player Safety and its boss, Brendan Shanahan.

“I would love an explanation on how he went about that,” Getzlaf said. “I said after the game that I took some accountability for putting myself in that situation. You look around the league, that happens to anybody else and it’s at least a five-game suspension.”

Getzlaf did return to the game in the second period and is fine outside of the minor swelling and number of stitches around his upper lip. But it only serves as a further reminder of the play and that Quincey doesn’t have to do any further time.

“I’m a little ticked off today,” he said. “I get up and look at the mirror at this and that guy’s going out to play the next game. There’s no accountability for that.”

The point of contention with not only Getzlaf but the Ducks in general is they feel Quincey’s hit was similar to the one Edmonton defenseman Corey Potter put on Nick Bonino Sunday night that got Potter a two-game ban.

It is the checks from behind on players in vulnerable positions near the glass and boards that particularly irk Getzlaf.

“To me, that’s clear cut,” Getzlaf said. “As clear as day. You don’t have to be a hockey person to figure that out. I think it’s one of the things that they’re trying to take out of the game. Especially the hit from behind like that.

“That wasn’t a hockey play at all. His stick was up by his waist and cross-checked. If he’s stick on puck and he catches my foot or something, then that’s a bad break. But a cross check from behind isn’t a bad break.”

There has been another recent rash of violent plays across the NHL over the past week and the topic of league discipline was a popular one with the Ducks, who can’t understand why the hits by Potter and Quincey were seen as different.

“As a player, you always hope for consistency,” Selanne said. “I know it’s a tough job. Shanny has been very busy this year. But I think those are very similar from my eyes.

“If you let (that) kind of things (get) away, that’s a bad, bad sign and a bad message for the league. You want to take those out.”

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau is also scratching his head. Boudreau said he believes the NHL “gets it right most of the time” and generally stays out of the discipline fray so he doesn’t get the league mad at him and “never get a call in your favor.”

But in the Quincey case, the coach expressed disappointment.

“In a very similar situation as the Potter hit, I can see there being some confusion because players on our team are asking what the difference was in the hits. They don’t know yet.

“It would nice if they were able to know what the difference was and why one wasn’t and one was. That would alleviate all the questions out here.”

FASTH TRIP

Viktor Fasth was sent back to Orange County as the Ducks determined that he would not be capable of being available for any of the three remaining games on their road trip.

Fasth has been dealing with inflammation in his lower-body region after aggravating a muscle prior to a scheduled start Nov. 22 against Tampa Bay and has played in just two games since originally hurting himself Oct. 17.

Boudreau said Fasth’s recovery has “sort of leveled off” and said he doesn’t know if the goalie will be back right after Christmas or “if it’s going to be another two weeks.”

“I’m sure Vik is very frustrated,” Boudreau continued.

Contact the writer: estephens@ocregister.com