The NHL will not issue further sanctions on Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic, who received a five-minute major and a game misconduct on Sunday for colliding with Edmonton Oilers goalie Mike Smith, according to ESPN’s Emilly Kaplan.
The play occurred in the third period of Game 3 between the Flames and Oilers. While Smith attempted to play the puck just outside his crease, Lucic barrelled down on him, making hard contact. The hit, which earned him a major for charging and a 10-minute misconduct, prompted a melee behind the Oilers’ goal, as Smith’s teammates came to his aid.
Three players from each team, in addition to Lucic, were assessed roughing minors and sent to the penalty box. Matthew Tkachuk served Lucic’s penalty.
Flames head coach Darryl Sutter didn’t agree with the call.
“They called it charging, correct?” He said after the game. “Could you imagine if (Lucic) did charge? What would happen there? He actually tried to slow down a bit, I think. It is what it is. It’s the score and who it was.”
After Lucic departed, Smith was temporarily removed from the game due to concussion protocol and went to the dressing room with trainers, prompting the Oilers to place Mikko Koskinen in goal. But Smith returned after four minutes of play had passed. The Oilers were leading 4-0 at the time.
The veteran goalie acknowledged he was reluctant to leave the game when the concussion spotter deemed it was required.
“It’s not an ideal situation to leave the game in the third period with 11 minutes left, but I get the reason for it,” he said. “I think the player should have some say in that, but obviously it is what it is.”
Smith allowed a goal upon his return but the Oilers won 4-1 to take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference second-round series.
Teammate Evander Kane, who scored a hat trick in the game, didn’t pull any punches when asked for his assessment. “It was obviously playoff frustration, running our goalie,” Kane said. “The refs made the right call.”
