There’s no love lost between the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars forward Cody Eakin.
Eakin was suspended earlier this season for hitting Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist behind the net. Despite the punishment handed out by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, the Rangers were looking to exact some revenge of their own when the two teams met Tuesday night.
After a hit along the boards, Kreider and Eakin dropped the gloves. Kreider, though, let more than just his fists fly.
Though it appears the use of the helmet may have been accidental — Eakin’s strap looks to have been caught on Kreider’s arm — the NHL isn’t taking any chances by letting this one go.
Back in 2014, Florida’s Willie Mitchell avoided punishment for hitting Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang with his own helmet.
Here’s the official update from the NHL:
New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for hitting Dallas Stars forward Cody Eakin with his helmet during a fight during NHL Game No. 663 in New York on Tuesday, Jan. 17, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.
The incident occurred at 1:52 of the second period.
The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
