First off, the NHL officials for the most part do a pretty good job officiating games. That being said, I think the Wild forward Kyle Brodziak got a raw deal during last night's game. This time I believe the on ice official handed out an excessive and an incorrect penalty.
If you go back and watch the embedded video you will see that Brodziak didn't drive Anze Kopitar head first into the boards, he also didn't hit Kopitar from behind in the numbers. In my opinion this was a shoulder to shoulder hit. Frankly, I was surprised by the call. What do you think?
Apparently, the Minnesota Wild were less than impressed with Kopitar's laying on the ice like he had been shot. I also think it was an amazing recovery as well and Kopitar who laid on the ice for that long shouldn’t be able to just come back and play on the ensuring power play. I would have to say, in my opinion I think that Kopitar was embellishing an injury and embarrassed the NHL officials.
If you go back and watch the embedded video you will see that Brodziak didn't drive Anze Kopitar head first into the boards, he also didn't hit Kopitar from behind in the numbers. In my opinion this was a shoulder to shoulder hit. Frankly, I was surprised by the call. What do you think?
Apparently, the Minnesota Wild were less than impressed with Kopitar's laying on the ice like he had been shot. I also think it was an amazing recovery as well and Kopitar who laid on the ice for that long shouldn’t be able to just come back and play on the ensuring power play. I would have to say, in my opinion I think that Kopitar was embellishing an injury and embarrassed the NHL officials.
Sooooo, [Kyle] Brodziak, one of the Wild's most important forwards, is booted for more than half the game AND L.A. got a five-minute major (actually 3:38 after a 1:22 4-on-4 ended) out of it. AND, Kopitar conveniently heals for the major.
Brodziak hopes the league understands it was a puck battle in the corner (I'd be shocked if it doesn't) and let's him off with time served.
"It's you're lying on the ice for five minutes like that and play the next shift, you're obviously not that hurt," Brodziak said, sarcastically.
Everyone on the Wild bench knew it was a bad call, and Koivu, the Wild's captain, stood up. [Russo's Rants]
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