Flyers forward Brayden Schenn had already delivered a series full of questionable hits. During Game Four, Schenn stepped his troll game up another notch, using his stick as a weapon.
The hubbub occurred late in the second period. Second line forward Justin Williams centered a pass to Evgeny Kuznetsov in front of the net. Kuznetsov took a few whacks at the puck in the crease before Michal Neuvirth froze the puck. That’s when Schenn arrived on the scene to deliver a cross-check after the whistle.
It was a dangerous play.
Danny slowed down the footage.
This hit by Schenn to the side of Kuznetsov's knee looks even worse in slow motion. pic.twitter.com/xy1AjztgRV
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) April 21, 2016
I don’t have problems with boys being boys after the whistle and scrumming it up, but Schenn was literally trying to break Kuznetsov’s leg. That is, um, not an honorable way to play hockey. Though it seems Schenn has a lot of experience with stuff like this.
@dcsportsbog @funnydanny @granthpaulsen @bmcnally14 Not sure if you caught this…even better it was Schenn! #GoCaps pic.twitter.com/DFO5vSDrQT
— Steve Drumm (@SteveDrumm) April 19, 2016
Kuznetsov is lucky his knee is still connected to his femur and shin.
You might be shocked to hear this, but there are rules against things like this.
If you intentionally try to injure another player, you’re supposed to get a match penalty.
Part 21.2 of the NHL rulebook [PDF]:
A match penalty shall be imposed on any player who deliberately attempts to injure or who deliberately injures an opponent in any manner
I get that hockey players are tough and I get Brayden Schenn is trying (in some bizarre way) to protect his teammates. I also get that this is the playoffs and you have to pay the price for the cup, whatever that actually means. But trying to deliberately injure one of the Capitals best players with his back turned is an embarrassment.
If the NHL cares about their players, they will review this hit.
And I promise you, the NHL will not review this hit.
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