Nothing in sports is dumber than the unwritten codes.

Example No. 1: The NHL playoffs have specialized in stupid since the puck dropped. Violence and dirty play are heightened as the league continues its descent back to thuggery.

A particularly idiotic example occurred Thursday in the series opener between Montreal and Toronto.

Maple Leafs captain and star player John Tavares was knocked to the ice by a check. Corey Perry of the Canadiens was chugging by and inadvertently struck Tavares in the head with his knee.

Tavares was concussed and is out indefinitely.

Tavares is a great player and class act. Here’s hoping for a full and speedy recovery. (Now the Maple Leafs have an excuse for losing. That’s important, too.)

Right after the next faceoff, Toronto’s Nick Foligno fought Perry.

Everyone knew what Perry did was an accident. But Foligno nonetheless made Perry answer for it. “It just addresses the situation,” Foligno said.

What “situation?” There was zero intent. There was no score to settle. Stuff happens.

It’s an extension of the notion that a clean, thunderous check must result in revenge via fighting. But legal plays and accidents shouldn’t require vengeance.

Example No. 2: On Monday, the Chicago White Sox were routing Minnesota in MLB. Minnesota utilized utility player Willians Astudillo as a pitcher.

If that wasn’t enough of a joke, Astudillo was lobbing 47 mph meatballs. White Sox DH Yermin Mercedes hit a home run off a 3-0 pitch.

White Sox manager Tony LaRussa said Mercedes made a “big mistake” because he hit a 3-0 pitch when his team had a lopsided lead.

Why? No sport is more predicated on statistics than baseball. That home run counts the same as any other. Mercedes has good stats, too: He leads MLB in hitting with a .358 average.

The Twins threw at Mercedes the next day. LaRussa said he “didn’t have a problem.”

LaRussa took the side of baseball’s code against one of his own players.

Mercedes should refuse to play for LaRussa. The White Sox should fire LaRussa even though they lead the AL Central. LaRussa might lose his locker room in the name of upholding the code.

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