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Stajan’s reaction to Coyle hit gets the GIF treatment

2012 NHLPA Rookie Showcase

TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 28: Charlie Coyle of the Minneota Wild meets with the media at the 2012 NHLPA rookie showcase at the MasterCard Centre on August 28, 2012 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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There was an odd scene in Minnesota on Tuesday night, as Wild forward Charlie Coyle received a five-minute major penalty for elbowing Calgary Flames center Matt Stajan.

Coyle didn’t receive a game misconduct, which often comes with a major penalty. Stajan’s reaction - some might say embellishment - was also immortalized in GIF form by video editor CJ Folger:

stajancoyle

If you’re in the “Stajan should get an Oscar” camp, at least the power play didn’t pay off for Calgary. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Michael Russo points out that the Wild somehow held the Flames to zero shots on a five-minute man advantage.

To add one more layer of oddness to the situation, beat writers for opposing teams hold opposing viewpoints.

Russo’s injury update drips with sarcasm:

Matt Stajan is fine and starting the third period for the #flames... Brushed off the elbow to the head that wasn’t an elbow to the head

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) February 27, 2013

On the other hand, the Calgary Sun’s Randy Sportak thinks it was a bad check.

Hit by Coyle on Stajan should be a suspension - late & he lunged upward into the jaw. “Finishing the check” is a late, dirty hit.

— Randy Sportak (@SUNRandySportak) February 27, 2013

Either way, it makes for a mesmerizing GIF, doesn’t it?