Update (23. May, 12:29 AM): Note that the below is an emotional response to the event. Now that I’ve calmed down, I back off my statement implying that a suspension is automatic, though I will say that if one is handed down, I won’t be surprised.
This does not, however, mean I back off my feeling that the punishment already meted out was excessive. Kronwall’s play was entirely legal and clean, and should not have gotten any penalty, let alone a major and a misconduct. Two minutes for anything would have been too much. That was a hockey play. - Matt
Update (10:00 PM): Found a better-quality video:
Havlat is out for the game.
In-game update: 3-3 tie after two. I’m still shell-shocked following the final five minutes of the period. The Wings turned “it” on in a major way to storm back from a 3-0 deficit. The third is going to be epic. - Matt
Game 3 has not been going the Wings’ way. On top of being down 2-0 at he first intermission, they will be without the services of hard-hitting Nik Kronwall for the remainder of the game for the huge hit he laid on Martin Havlat at 13:08. Havlat took something of a suicide pass from a teammate, lost the puck in his feet, and found himself in dreamland after Kronwall’s shoulder connected with his chin.
Kronwall and a prone Havlat were immediately swarmed by angry Hawks in a scrum leading to penalties for both Franzen and Byfuglien. Kronwall, meanwhile, was slapped with a five-minute interference major and a game misconduct despite the fact that he didn’t leave his feet, hit with his shoulder, and did it all with the puck right there.
Despite the NHL’s leniency so far this post-season, I consider it a safe bet that Nik will get suspended for at least a game. It was a big hit, and unfortunately knocked Havlat out, but was not a dirty play and was not a penalty. It was an awful call, but I have no faith in the NHL to make it right on further review.
You know something’s wrong with the world when everyone on Versus claims it was an excessive penalty.
Video when it appears on YouTube.
In other news, the Wings need to wake up. They’re lucky they’re not down 5-0. I guess they deserve some credit for the fact that it’s just 2-0, but they need to turn the tables in the next forty.