Flames' Lucic ejected for running Oilers' Smith behind the net
Calgary Flames enforcer Milan Lucic was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct during Sunday's Game 3 for running into Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith behind the net.
The incident occurred midway through the third period with Calgary trailing 4-0. A melee followed the collision.
😳#StanleyCup | #BattleofAlberta pic.twitter.com/wP9UJkvSgR
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 23, 2022
Lucic won't face supplemental discipline for the hit, reports ESPN's Emily Kaplan. The veteran enforcer has been suspended four times in his career.
Concussion spotters initially removed Smith from the game, but he returned shortly after.
Flames head coach Darryl Sutter said he believes the collision would've been much worse had Lucic intended to injure Smith.
"They called it charging, correct? Could you imagine if (Lucic) did charge, what would happen there? He actually tried to slow it down a little bit, I think," Sutter told reporters postgame. "It is what it is. It's the score and who it was. That's what they called."
HEADLINES
- Bobrovsky 10th in all-time wins with victory over Maple Leafs
- Hart Trophy Rankings: Draisaitl fending off challengers in stretch run
- Batherson helps Senators double up Bruins for 5th straight win
- Marner trade talk exposes urgency of upcoming playoffs
- Flames' Zary suspended 2 games for elbowing Canucks' Elias Pettersson