Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov avoided a penalty for kicking Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson — but may still face supplemental discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
Late in overtime of Friday’s game, Kochetkov made a glove save on a shot from Carlson. The Caps blueliner followed up with a poke at the netminder to try to knock the puck loose. Kochetkov responded by kicking his left leg backwards, connecting with Carlson’s shin and knocking him to the ice.
While no penalty was called on the play, one certainly should have been.
Rule 49 covers kicking:
Kicking [is defined as] the action of a player deliberately using his skate(s) with a kicking motion to … contact an opponent.
A match penalty shall be imposed on any player who kicks or attempts to kick another player. Whether or not an injury occurs, the Referee will impose a five (5) minute time penalty under this rule
While goaltender penalties are typically served by a teammate, a match penalty would’ve seen Kochetkov ejected. Here’s Rule 27.5:
Should a goalkeeper incur a match penalty, his place will then be taken by a member of his own Club, or by a substitute goalkeeper who is available, and such player will be allowed the goalkeeper’s full equipment.
Canes backup goaltender Spencer Martin would’ve been forced to come into the game – without a warm-up – for the remaining 1:09 of the overtime session and the subsequent shootout.
Carlson was not injured on the play.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety will be reviewing the play, with the option to levy a fine or possible suspension. Let’s hope they do, if only to send a message.
The Carolina Hurricanes lost to the Washington Capitals 7-6 in a shootout. Referees for the game were Jon McIsaac (#2) and Brandon Schrader (#34), with linespersons Kyle Flemington (#55) and Kilian McNamara (#93).
