These two hits happened on the same shift. First, Jarret Stoll hit Stephen Gionta from behind near center ice. Gionta complained to the refs after the hit but play continued. No penalty was called against Stoll.
New Jersey Devils Furious Over Jarret Stoll Hit On Stephen Gionta
Seconds later, when the puck found its way down below the Kings goal line, Steve Bernier delivered a crushing blow to the back of Rob Scuderi.
Scuderi stayed down for a bit after his face collided with the glass. He was bleeding, and he’s yet to play a shift since the hit. Bernier was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the infraction. The difference in the penalty for each hit didn’t make Devils coach Peter DeBoer happy ....
... and it’s certainly been the difference in the game. The Kings scored three goals on the ensuing five-minute power play and that could wrap up the Stanley Cup for them. Who knows. We’ll see as this game continues.
Looking at the two hits, it doesn’t seem like DeBoer really has much of a case. The five-minute boarding major was more than justified for the Bernier hit, and in comparison, the Stoll hit is essentially nothing. Of course, had a minor penalty been called against Stoll, the Bernier hit never would have happened, but the fact of the matter is that Bernier still delivered an awful, awful hit here and there’s only one person to blame for that.
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