Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov had a potential major penalty reduced to a minor for interference after a high hit on Alexander Wennberg of the New York Rangers.
Wennberg took a pass in the defensive zone that deflected off his stick. As he leaned forward for the puck, Kulikov – cutting across the ice – caught him with a shoulder to the head and upper body. Referee Chris Rooney’s arm shot up as the Rangers center remained down on the ice.
“The play is under review for a five-minute penalty,” announced Rooney, carefully dodging the specific infraction or whether it’s a major or match penalty.
Penalty reviews for a major can result in a reduction to a lesser penalty of a different infraction or rescinding of the penalty altogether; a match review can only reduce it to a lesser degree of the same infraction, which definitely limits the officials’ options.
Here’s why this is important: If the actual call on the ice is a major for interference, the refs cannot jump over to a match penalty for an illegal check to the head. Conversely, if the call on the ice is for an illegal hit to the head, then the refs can’t switch to an interference minor – it would have to be a minor for an illegal check to the head.
In this case, referees Chris Rooney and Francois St. Laurent opted to reduce the penalty to a two-minute minor for interference. I think we can all agree that, clearly, this is – at minimum – a minor penalty for interference.
Based on the rules, that means an illegal check to the head is off the table. We would disagree. Under Rule 48 – Illegal Check to the Head – this would check quite a few boxes on the criteria:
While there is head contact on the play, it is avoidable. Kulikov can make a legal body check on this play that avoids or minimizes head contact. Instead, he chooses a path that drives his shoulder into Wennberg’s upper body, including contact with the head. While Wennberg is bent over as he leans for the puck, his body position does not materially change immediately prior to or concurrent with the hit. Yes, Wennberg is vulnerable in that position, but he’s already leaning forward before Kulikov commits to the hit. Kulikov had multiple options, and chose a hit that resulted in head contact.
Kulikov was suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Sheary earlier this season.
Our friends over at Tough Call also felt the initial major penalty call was warranted on the play.
The New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 2-1 in overtime. Referees for the game were Chris Rooney (#5) and Francois St. Laurent (#8) with linesmen Devin Berg (#87) and Ryan Daisy (#81).
