Lightning's Kucherov Not Suspended for Hit On Vatanen

[Run To State]

I didn't hear anything on this until this morning. For those that missed it too:

 

Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov will not receive supplemental discipline for his controversial hit that knocked New Jersey Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen out of Game 4 of their Eastern Conference playoff series on Wednesday night.

 

The NHL department of player safety determined that Vatanen's head was not the main point of contact on the hit, which is a determining factor for "illegal check to the head" rulings.

 

While the hit was similar in nature to the one that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty delivered to Vegas Golden Knights forward William Carrier, which earned Doughty a one-game suspension, the league said Kucherov's hit was actually the way Doughty should have delivered his hit to Carrier, rather than making significant contact with his head.

 

Lightning's Kucherov won't be suspended for hit

[neilman1234]

Do you think he got "Star Treatment"? I love Kucherov but I thought that was a suspension-worthy hit.

[plantmanky]

Do you think he got "Star Treatment"? I love Kucherov but I thought that was a suspension-worthy hit.

 

The only difference in the 2 hits is Kucherov hits him clearly in the chest and does not appear to be going for the head.

[Run To State]

Do you think he got "Star Treatment"? I love Kucherov but I thought that was a suspension-worthy hit.

 

I don't think so. I think he tried to deliver as legal a hit as possible. Which the department of player safety seems to agree with.