Mikko Rantanen insists there was no intent on the play that injured Alexander Romanov and sent head coach Patrick Roy into a full-volume eruption behind the Islanders' bench.
The Dallas Stars forward said Wednesday that the collision, which sent Romanov awkwardly into the boards and ended Rantanen’s night, came from a split-second loss of balance rather than any deliberate shove.
“Obviously, never, never meant to do that. Never done that my whole career,” Rantanen said. “I play hard, but never try to be dirty on purpose.”
Rantanen avoided supplemental discipline for his hit on Romanov, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident happened late in the third period as the Stars were pressing at six-on-five to tie the game. Rantanen was skating in on the forecheck when he made contact with Romanov, sending the 25-year-old face-first into the end boards.
Romanov immediately appeared to be in pain and required assistance to skate off the ice. Rantanen was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and ejected from the game.
Roy seemed incensed after the melee, caught on a hot mic, suggesting that the Islanders will retaliate against Rantanen during their next meeting.
"You won't finish the game at home," Roy yelled as Rantanen was heading down the tunnel. "Why won't you come to New York and talk?"
The NHL told Sportsnet no discipline was planned for Roy for his comments.
Rantanen said Wednesday he didn’t hear what Roy was shouting, nor has he paid much attention to the reaction since.
“I didn’t hear it, no. So I’m not sure,” Rantanen said. “I don’t read a lot of news, so I’m not sure what he said. Maybe he was yelling so much I didn’t pick up the words. But yeah, I don’t know what he said.”
Romanov was placed on injured reserve by the Islanders on Wednesday with an upper-body injury. He has one assist, 31 hits and 31 blocked shots through 15 games this season, averaging 19:27 of ice time per game.
Roy was insistent that Rantanen should have been more aware of the situation.
"When you see the number, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that. You don't go through the guy," Roy said post-game of the Rantanen hit. "To me, it's disrespectful for our guys. ... That should not be part of our game."
Rantanen explained that the play wasn’t what it looked like in real time. He believes he was clipped by Islanders defenceman Scott Mayfield, started to fall forward, and reacted instinctively as Romanov approached the boards.
“It’s milliseconds. You’ve got to make those decisions,” he said. “If I don’t get touched, I wouldn’t just go bury a guy from behind. I’ve never done it and I would never do it.”
Once the penalty was called and the officials gathered for a lengthy review, Rantanen knew where things were headed.
“I kind of knew my game was over,” he said. “I didn’t expect to come back anymore.”
The Stars winger also said he reached out to Romanov after the game.
“I never want to be a dirty player, and I never meant to do that,” he said. “I texted him and wished him all the best in recovery.”
