Monday night’s Rangers-Wild game in New York featured two of the more dangerous hits we’ve seen so far this season, both coming from Rangers players who were ejected as a result of their actions.
Chris Kreider was the first to be thrown out of the game, given a boarding call and a game misconduct after this hit on Jonas Brodin. Kreider hit Brodin from behind a few feet from the endboards, sending him face-first into the boards behind the net and leaving him shaken up.
UPDATE: Kreider will not face any supplemental discipline for the hit, per TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
The second misconduct came nearly halfway through the second period, when Rangers defenseman John Moore threw an ugly elbow to the head of Minnesota’s Erik Haula. Moore clearly targeted Haula’s head with his elbow – a great example of the cheap shots the league is trying to crack down on – and was thrown out of the game for intent to injure. He’ll likely see a suspension as a result.
UPDATE: Moore will have a phone hearing with the league, per McKenzie. That means, if suspended, he’s facing a maximum of five games.
Despite losing two skaters, the Rangers were able to mount a fantastic third period comeback and defeat the Wild 5-4.
