All I can say is ouch! Looks like a violent but legal hit to me.
Devils defenseman Anssi Salmela was taken off the ice on a stretcher in Philadelphia Monday night after getting hit by the Flyers' Jeff Carter just after scoring a short-handed goal for a 2-0 Devils lead.
Salmela, who came to the Devils in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade, cut around Mike Richards in the right circle and scored from the slot just as Carter delivered a right shoulder to his head.
After remaining facedown on the ice for six minutes in a mostly silent Wachovia Center, Salmela was removed from the ice on a stretcher. No penalty was called on the play.
The goal and it occurred at 1:01 of the second period. As the period ended, the Devils reported that Salmela was walking around the dressing room and was OK. [NJ.COM]
Violent. Yes. Unnecessary. Yes. Legal... yes, hopefully for now.
ReplyDeleteI don't see a place in hockey for hits like these. I don't think Carter was headhunting although it really does look like it from the replay. I think Carter realized the play was over too late.
And I'm saying this because, to my knowledge, Carter doesn't have a history or a rep of dirty hits. So, I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
I hope next season brings a penalty to hits like these, though.