What I don't like about these plays is that Nystrom changed his mind about playing the puck and decided to lay the shoulder into Letang instead. Letang didn't have control of the puck but in fact had just attempted to poke it by Nystrom. Well Nystrom wasn't going to be made to look like a fool so he lays a shoulder into a guy who doesn't even have the puck. And I don't buy that he was finishing his check either. So while Letang did alter his position by reaching out, Nystrom took advantage imo. Principal point of contact was not the head. I also don't believe there was an attempt to injure. Probably no suspension. Penalty should have been interference imo.
This incident reminds me a lot of the Steve Moore hit on Markus Naslund. Also the Doug Weight?? hit on Brandon Sutter??
- rockychocbill
Those kind of hits are done all the time but instead of getting hit against the boards he got rocked behind the net.
Imo the reason a penalty was called was because Letang was hurt.