Screen cap: NBC Sports Washington
Not all vibes were positive in the Carolina Hurricanes locker room following their 6-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Monday night. The Hurricanes were vocally upset over a hit that Capitals’ winger Lars Eller applied to Hurricanes’ forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the closing seconds of Monday night’s contest. Eller was assessed a charging minor on the play.
Here was the hit from Lars Eller at the end of the game on Jesperi Kotkaniemi #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/Y1xLCktGEW
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) March 29, 2022
Kotkaniemi was favoring a kneee and helped from the bench to the locker room following the end of the game.
Hurricanes forward Martin Necas had plenty to say about Eller’s hit following the game.
“I don’t know what to say,” Necas said. “For me, that’s just so stupid. I don’t know even who hit him, but whoever it was, it’s a 6-1 game, one second left and (Eller) does that. He tries to be a hero or whatever. I don’t know. I have no words for that. It’s just ridiculous.”
Different sports but comparable stills between Jameis Winston tore ACL and Kotkaniemi injury. Like always, hopefully I’m wrong pic.twitter.com/iB459Uo515
— Dr. Harjas Grewal (@Harjas_Grewal) March 29, 2022
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was less critical of Eller’s specific hit, but didn’t like the timing of the play.
“I don’t know how bad, but he’s (Kotkaniemi) definitely going to be out,” Brind’Amour said. “The game was over. Let’s just get it over with. Two seconds left. I don’t like it. But nothing you can do about it.”
Hurricanes goaltender Frederick Andersen added “I don’t know what he was doing on that play,”
Carolina, which leads the Metropolitan Division, moved one point ahead of Florida in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, which would likely mean an opening round series against the Capitals.
As for the Capitals, they will have a few days to ponder Monday night’s drubbing. The team will be off on Tuesday and Wednesday before they return to practice on Thursday. They next host the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.
By Jon Sorensen
If they didn’t like that hit then why continue to cycle the puck in the offensive zone with 2 seconds left? they could have easily ragged the puck back like every other team does when the game is winding down and out of reach.
Good point. Brind’Amore’s bunch seem to be continuously belly-aching
#horrifyingactofviolence
Agree with above. I didn’t think it deserved any penalty – clean hit and puck at his feet….what am I missing. Plus, Lars probably not in a great mood with CM centering his line : )
Don’t worry guys, I’m sure Eller will get the same penalty Foegele got for his cheap shot on Oshie. 🙂
The one where Oshie went limp when he should’ve braced for contact?
No, the one when he was crosschecked from behind into the boards.
Btw, if you’re going in head first, it’s better to be limp – it’s the same as for car accidents. Bracing tends to cause injuries.
Typical Caps cheap shot surprised it was not Wilson or crybaby Oshie.
Oshie didn’t cry when his collarbone was broken in four places after being illegally hit from behind, into the boards, in the playoffs, by then- Carolina Hurricane Warren Foegele- who of course went unpunished. Can you explain your position?
Carolina fans forgetting (conveniently) how the season series went.