Boston Bruins defenceman John-Michael Liles should be expecting a call from the NHL’s Department of Player of Safety on Wednesday.
In the second period of Tuesday’s game, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov made a quick move to cut across the Boston Bruins’ blueline before he was drilled with a high elbow to the head from Liles.
Kucherov, who was shaken up after the hit, headed to the locker room for the rest of the first period, but returned in the second.
Liles did not receive a penalty on the play.
The question now is, will Liles receive some sort of discipline? For sure it was a weird play, as Kucherov cut and left Liles somewhat off balance. There’s no question it was a hit to the head, but who does the onus fall on here: Liles to not make the contact, or Kucherov to not go into a vulnerable position?