It looks like Dmitri Orlov may have gotten away with one…
The Boston Bruins defenseman was not penalized for an apparent slewfoot on Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett during Wednesday’s Game 5. The two players came together behind the net, with the puck moving around the end boards. Orlov appears to use his arm to put pressure on Bennett’s upper body, while kicking out his skates.
This is a textbook example of slewfooting.
The NHL Rule Book covers slew-footing in Rule 52:
Slew-footing is the act of a player using his leg or foot to knock or kick an opponent’s feet from under him, or pushes an opponent’s upper body backward with an arm or elbow, and at the same time with a forward motion of his leg, knocks or kicks the opponent’s feet from under him, causing him to fall violently to the ice.
Any player who is guilty of slew-footing shall be assessed a match penalty.
No penalty was called on the play.
Here’s a look at the NHL’s video rulebook on slew-footing:
Slew-footing is rarely called. You’d have to go back to 2016 for the most recent penalty called during a game for a slew-foot; this one was whistled on Montreal’s Andrew Shaw.
Often, plays that fail to meet this criteria are penalized as tripping, or potentially termed as ‘dangerous trips’ by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety when issuing supplemental discipline.
The league had one instance of disciplinary action for slew-footing this year: a fine to Calgary’s Blake Coleman, who was issued a minor penalty for tripping on the play. Boston’s Brad Marchand was also fined for a ‘dangerous trip’ on a similar situation earlier this year.
No penalty was called on this play. It appears no supplemental discipline will be forthcoming either.
