Nashville Predators center Philip Tomasino was ejected from Thursday’s game against Calgary for slewfoooting Flames defenseman Dennis Gilbert.
Tomasino delivered a hit along the boards, deep in the Flames’ zone. His left leg appeared to sweep Gilbert’s, knocking him backwards and causing his head to hit the ice. Gilbert remained motionless on the ice, flat on his back, for several minutes. He was helped off the ice and did not return to the game.
Referees Jean Hebert and Frederick L’Ecuyer reviewed the hit, confirming their initial call on the ice and ending Tomasino’s night.
Rule 52 covers slew-footing:
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.
Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska provided an update on Gilbert after the game.
“I haven’t talked to [head sports physio] Kent [Kobelka] yet. I see [Gilbert] moving around now so I think he’s going to be fine,” said Huska, as reported by Eric Francis. “He’ll just probably have to go through protocol is what I would assume right now.”
Minnesota head coach Andrew Brunette felt the play was legal, but understood the officials’ ruling.
“They reviewed it. Obviously, to see a player down [is something] you never want to see in our game,” said Brunette. “I felt it was a hockey hit but you don’t want to see anyone in that position so I understand what they were thinking.”
The Calgary Flames defeated the Minnesota Wild 6-3. Referees for the game were Jean Hebert (#15) and Frederick L’Ecuyer (#17), with linesmen Kilian McNamara (#93) and Ben O’Quinn (#91).
