Matt Grzelcyk of the Boston Bruins is taken off the ice by David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk after being hit into the boards by Oskar Sundqvist (not pictured) of the St. Louis Blues during the first period in Game 2 of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on May 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Near the end of the first period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist delivered a high hit to the head area of Matt Grzelcyk that kept the Bruins defenseman out for the rest of the night. So as one might expect, NHL Player Safety is reviewing the play for potential discipline. And at least one Bruins player agrees with that idea.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweeted after the game that Player Safety is “taking a good look” at the hit. Sundqvist was assessed a two-minute boarding minor.
Though Grzelcyk got caught with his head slightly leaned over in an awkward position and Sundqvist led with his shoulder, the hit came from behind and it could be argued that head contact was avoidable. The fact that Grzelcyk suffered an injury on the play will also be factored in. (Update: Grzelcyk is officially day-to-day and in the concussion protocol.)
A look at the hit on by Oskar Sundqvist on Matt Grzelcyk. Didn't look good. pic.twitter.com/3yjlbhgkvs
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 30, 2019
Per Matt Porter of the Boston Globe, Sundqvist said “No comment, I can’t say anything” when asked about the hit.
Bruins forward David Backes didn’t hold back much when asked about the hit. He didn’t like the call on the ice, or the play itself.
“I don’t think that’s a hit we want in our game,” Backes said. “I think it’s from behind, elevated into his head, into the glass. If thats a two-minute penalty, there’s going to be a shortage of defensemen, I think, in this series by the end of it. But that’s in somebody else’s hands.
“If I’m making that hit, I’m probably watching from the bleachers for a few [games]. But we’ll see what happens with their player.”
David Backes was not a fan of Oskar Sundqvist's hit on Matt Grzelcyk (@TDBank_US) pic.twitter.com/sOF1QbUorW
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) May 30, 2019
At this point, all that’s known is Player Safety is reviewing the hit. It may not necessarily result in a hearing for Sundqvist, let alone any supplemental discipline. As for Grzelcyk, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said he went to the hospital for tests but had no further updates.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.