Apr 12, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17) waits for a face off during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
It was an ugly and obvious cheap shot, one that Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic has unfortunately thrown before.
In the final moments of the second period of Friday night’s 1-0 Game 1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Lucic took it upon himself to spear Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser in a very sensitive place between his legs. The play was caught on camera but the NBC Sports Network decided not to talk about it and the game went on.
After the game, Lucic had to answer to reporters for the incident and he responded by informing them it was “a heat of the moment thing”. Well, at least he didn’t lie like last time and say it didn’t happen even though like this incident it was caught on video for all the world to see.
Now, I understand players get frustrated and these kind of things happen, but they’ve happened far too often recently for Lucic and I for one think he needs to man up and start playing the game like he use to. Since he’s been on the 1st line and scoring goals he’s gotten this attitude that he’s somehow untouchable and overreacts basically every time he gets hit, clean or not. It’s embarrassing and doesn’t make you look tough, in fact it does the opposite and makes you look weak.
Also don’t get me wrong here, I’m a Boston Bruins fan to the core and love the way they play the game, even if at times it can get ugly. Just they are too good and too talented to be pulling crap like this, leave it for someone like James Neal. Lucic is a bull and a heck of a power forward, the Bruins will need him at his best if they want to get past Detroit and make a deep run, that won’t happen if they are resorting to trash like this.
However you feel about it, at the end of the day it really only matters how the NHL feels about it and they’ve decided to not suspend Lucic, rather they’ve fined him $5,000. They’ll also now be keeping a closer eye on him and any other egregious infractions will most likely result in a suspension.