Stajan’s reaction to Coyle hit gets the GIF treatment

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:

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?