Watch: NHL playoff hit so brutal that opponent's helmet goes flying off
Anaheim Ducks winger Corey Perry drilled San Jose Sharks forward Melker Karlsson on Saturday night with a shoulder hit that knocked Karlsson’s helmet off.
The play occurred with just under four minutes left in the third period and the Sharks leading 3-2 in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Perry launched his right shoulder into Karlsson, hitting him with such force that Karlsson’s helmet went flying off.
Suspension?
And how do you dispute this penalty? pic.twitter.com/RoQnVX4jsY
— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) April 15, 2018
Karlsson went to the ground, but was not seriously injured.
https://twitter.com/KKurzNHL/status/985396386819489797
Perry was given a two-minute penalty for reckless interference, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
“If he wants to take a penalty at that point of the game, we’ll take the power play,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said after the game.
There’s been no word from the league on whether Perry will be fined or suspended for the hit.
“It would have been better served to be less violent,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said of Perry’s play.
Regardless of what the point of contact was here the point is that he went out of his way to target a defenseless unsuspecting player. Just like the Kadri play it’s predatory and the sooner crap like this is taken out of the game the better.
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) April 15, 2018
So far this postseason, the league has suspended Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty one game for a check to the head of Las Vegas Golden Knights forward William Carrier.
Should Drew Doughty be suspended for his hit? He has a hearing at 4:30pm ET pic.twitter.com/J7yU60Cyn7
— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) April 12, 2018
Also, Toronto’s Nazem Kadri was given a three-game suspension for his hit on the Bruins’ Tommy Wingels in Game 1 of their playoff series.
Nazem Kadri. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Awful, awful, AWFUL decision to make a dangerous run at Tommy Wingels while he's on his knees.
Despicable. pic.twitter.com/4rVfyC2zzY
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 13, 2018
Given the suspensions for these hits, it would be surprising if Perry doesn’t get at least a game.
The Sharks held on to beat the Ducks 3-2 to take a 2-0 series lead.
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