Calgary Flames Forward Milan Lucic Insisted that he attempted to prevent a collision. Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith On Sunday, they will play Game 3 in their second-round series.
It was midway through the third period and Smith was playing the puck behind Edmonton’s net. Lucic barge in to send them both flying toward the end boards.
Lucic was given a five minute major for charging as well as a game misconduct. NHL concussion spotters forced Smith to leave the game briefly and undergo an assessment. In a 1-1 series, it was 4-0 Edmonton.
Oilers backup Mikko Koskinen Smith won 4:19, and Smith was able to take over.
Lucic denied that Smith was being maliciously targeted when he addressed the incident Monday for the first time.
Lucic claimed that “I certainly wasn’t going to hit him.” “I was slowing down. … If I charged, we wouldn’t be playing (in game 4) together.”
It was also in line with Darryl Sutter, Flames coach, who said the same thing after Game 3, in response to Lucic being ejected.
They called it charging, right? He replied. “Can you imagine if Lucic charged? What would happen then? He did try to slow down a little, I believe. It’s just what it is. It’s both the score (being at 4-0) as well as who it was.
Lucic will not receive any additional discipline from NHL for the incident.
He said that he doesn’t believe he really wants to be in what he was thinking.
Smith stated that he was not sure what to make of this hit at the moment.
Smith said, “I don’t really understand what happened.” “I was playing hockey and suddenly, I find myself getting buried under the boards. It’s not a good situation to get run through the end wall, especially if you don’t expect it.
The hit was only one thing. Smith’s bigger problem was being forced to quit the game even though he didn’t feel it was necessary. Smith admitted that his helmet fell off, but claimed his head did not hit anything.
He said, “It’s not ideal to (exit), in the third period with eleven minutes remaining, but I understand the reason for it.” “I believe the player should have some input in this, but it is what it IS.”
Edmonton’s projected starter will be Smith again in Game 4 against Calgary on Tuesday.