In 2005, the Capitals made six-foot, seven-inch Joe Finley their first-round pick. After getting arrested for throwing a kitchen table and lawnmower into a North Dakota street, Finley never caught on with the Capitals and only played 21 NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.
Friday, Finley — now playing for Liiga’s HIFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors) — destroyed more earthly objects, this time focusing his rage on 34-year-old forward Michel Miklík. Finley leveled the Finnish Elite League winger, forcing Miklík to be stretchered off the ice.
Warning: Please close down your computer and take shelter in your underground doomsday bunker if you are squeamish and do not like seeing blood.
So here’s what happened. As Miklík tried to rein in a pass, he got freight-trained by Finley at the blue line.
On replay, the charging Finley tried to make Miklík’s shoulder the principle point of contact. But instead clips part of Miklík’s head with his shoulder and elbow with his follow-through. Miklík never had possession of the puck.
To further add danger to the play, Miklík’s head bounced off the ice, opening up a bad cut on his face.
Finnish medical personnel then loaded Miklík onto a backboard and carried him off the ice.
We hope Miklík makes a swift recovery.
S/T to @HockeyWebCast for first posting.
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