The Washington Capitals took down the Carolina Hurricanes in dramatic fashion on Friday night, earning a chaotic but very entertaining 7-6 shootout victory. Overshadowed by the dueling hat tricks and back-and-forth excitement was a blatant, dangerous play from Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov during 3-on-3 overtime.
With 1:08 remaining in the extra frame, John Carlson let go a wrist shot that Kochetkov stopped and froze for a faceoff. Carlson, trying to sniff out the game-winner, poked at Kochetkov’s arm to try and free up the puck.
Kochetkov responded by blatantly kicking Carlson with his skate. The kick put Carlson on his backside and left him questioning the officials about the lack of a call.
The NHL, under rule 49.1, defines kicking as, “The action of a player deliberately using his skate(s) with a kicking motion to propel the puck or to contact an opponent.”
Here is another angle from behind the goal of the kick.
Further down in the rulebook, you’ll find the punishment that is supposed to be handed out for the deliberate kicking of an opponent.
Rule 49.3 reads as follows:
Match Penalty – 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.
A match penalty is virtually identical to a game misconduct infraction as both eject the offending player from the game. The difference is that match penalties also carry an automatic suspension from all future games until the league office can review the play for potential supplemental discipline.
Not only should Kochetkov have been immediately kicked out of the game and be suspended indefinitely right now, but the Capitals should have been on a power play for the remaining time left in overtime. While they did win in the shootout anyway, the added risk of missing out on a standings point is huge for a team constantly battling for the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Kochetkov’s kick can still be reviewed by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety as the rulebook includes the play in the list of infractions that can be considered for both fine and suspension even if there is no injury as a result.
Carlson was not injured by the kick and skated a game-high 29:57 of ice time in the win. He also took part in the shootout, getting stopped by Kochetkov in the fourth round.
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