Boston Bruins John-Michael Liles Hit Deemed Fair By League On Thursday
Boston Bruins defenseman John-Michael Liles will not be disciplined for his hit on Tampa Bay Lightning player Nikita Kucherov. This is after he had a phone hearing with NHL’s Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of Kucherov. The play that was in question was with Kucherov and Noel Acciari battling for the puck while crossing the blue line into the Bruins zone.
Kucherov was hunched over while engaged with Acciari, and Liles elbow most likely aimed at Kucherov’s chest area ended up hitting him in the side of the head. Kucherov was dazed and sat out the remainder of the first period, Kuchrov did return for the final two periods with no injury suffered on the play. the department of player safety likely took the none injury into making their decision to not discipline Liles.
"“I didn’t think I came up high with it. I thought I just tried to step into him,” said Liles. “I didn’t know if he was falling, or if he ducked. Obviously he was down for a while. I didn’t see a replay on it, so I’m not really sure.I’m not trying to hit him up high. Most guys, I can’t even reach their heads. Just trying to do my job at the blue line, to step up and just get a piece of him. I didn’t even think my elbow came up high at all.”-John-Michael Liles on the hit"
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Liles has only been disciplined once in his career and it came in 2006 where he received a fine for kneeing a player. Ultimately this announcement of no discipline is very good news for the Boston Bruins as Liles since his acquisition at the trade deadline has been a reliable defensive presence that the Bruins desperately lacked prior to the NHL trade deadline.