There’s the right way to hit, and the wrong way. The debate continues, but Pittsburgh Penguins blue liner Matt Niskanen delivered a textbook open-ice body check to Florida Panthers 19-year-old rookie Jonathan Huberdeau.
Cutting into the Penguins zone, Huberdeau was stood up just inside the blue line by Niskanen.
Niskanen also scored the winning goal in a 3-1 victory over the Panthers Friday.
The debate about what constitutes a clean hit or one worthy of a suspension has picked up in recent days, particularly after Colorado Avalanche forward Mark Olver did not have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL following a hard hit to St. Louis Blues rookie Vladimir Tarasenko.
Blues coach Ken Hitchcock has spoken out about the hit on Tarasenko, calling it “a blow to the head.”