One of the more standout plays during the Wings’ 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night was Kronwall’s hit on Vancouver center (and Livonia, Michigan native) Ryan Kesler in the third period.
With 16:51 remaining in the third period and Vancouver up 3-2, Kronwall lined up Kesler along the boards and delivered a punishing hit like we’ve seen so many times before from #55.
“I felt he was coming up along the boards, the puck was there. I just tried to get a clean check in,” Kronwall said. “I didn’t feel (that he left his feet), but if that’s the case, that’s nothing we want in our game and I’m sure I’ll get a call from Shanny (NHL vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan).
Kesler on the other hand took exception to not the hit itself, but the lack of action by Kronwall after the fight…
“I put my head down for a second and he hits me. … My only problem with the hit is he doesn’t stand up for himself afterward. If you’re going to hit guys like that, then drop the gloves.”
Kesler added, “Has he ever? I think he has zero career fights. If you’re going to continue to hit like that, I think you got to answer the bell.”
This hit too was very reminiscent of Kronwall’s hit on Chicago’s Martin Havlat during Game 3 of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Later, Kesler continued to wet his diaper when he delivered a knee-to-knee hit on Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg who was shaken up on the play but was ok.
Kesler said he had no idea about the hit but Zetterberg was not too happy about almost having his knee taken out…
“He comes with his knee. I see him, he sees me,” Zetterberg said. “I think he was a little frustrated by the big hit from Kronner and he was just going around and trying to find stuff.”
Either way, it seemed pretty clear Kesler was simply just embarrassed by being laid out on his home ice. Not to mention Kesler should have had his head up on the play.
Ref: YouTube, Mlive.com, forum.calgarypuck.com (image)