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meditatedkickaboxa
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Didn't have a chance to see it? Was it that bad?
The NHL will hold a disciplinary hearing for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith to address a head shot he delivered to Blackhawks forward Ben Smith in Wednesday night's preseason game in Chicago, according to a source familiar with the situation.
More On The Blackhawks
For all the latest on the Blackhawks, check out Jesse Rogers' blog on ESPNChicago.com. Blog
The hearing will take place either Thursday or Friday, and must happen before the Red Wings' next game, which is Friday night in Detroit against Toronto.
The blow to the head came early in the third period while Ben Smith was on a mini breakaway. Brendan Smith came at Ben Smith from right to left, and as the Blackhawks forward tried to go around him, Brendan Smith's shoulder caught Ben Smith on the left side of his face.
Ben Smith lay motionless for several seconds before being helped off the ice. Brendan Smith was given a match penalty, ending his night. After the game, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said his player was doing better, but would be re-evaluated Thursday.
"Both referees said it's a classic example of what we're talking about, that's the illegal hit," Quenneville said after the game Wednesday. "It was pretty black and white. I'm not happy about it."
Detroit coach Mike Babcock tried to defend his player.
"He knows it's against the rules to hit the guy in the head, but he wasn't trying to hit the guy in the head. He was trying to make a body contact, and he would have made body contact but the guy did this [deked], and left his head there," Babcock said. "I watched [the replay] many times. What's the onus on the player with the puck?"
Blackhawks forward Viktor Stalberg also left the game early, departing in the first period with a leg injury that Quenneville described as "probably not good, either."
The NHL will hold a disciplinary hearing for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith to address a head shot he delivered to Blackhawks forward Ben Smith in Wednesday night's preseason game in Chicago, according to a source familiar with the situation.
More On The Blackhawks
For all the latest on the Blackhawks, check out Jesse Rogers' blog on ESPNChicago.com. Blog
The hearing will take place either Thursday or Friday, and must happen before the Red Wings' next game, which is Friday night in Detroit against Toronto.
The blow to the head came early in the third period while Ben Smith was on a mini breakaway. Brendan Smith came at Ben Smith from right to left, and as the Blackhawks forward tried to go around him, Brendan Smith's shoulder caught Ben Smith on the left side of his face.
Ben Smith lay motionless for several seconds before being helped off the ice. Brendan Smith was given a match penalty, ending his night. After the game, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said his player was doing better, but would be re-evaluated Thursday.
"Both referees said it's a classic example of what we're talking about, that's the illegal hit," Quenneville said after the game Wednesday. "It was pretty black and white. I'm not happy about it."
Detroit coach Mike Babcock tried to defend his player.
"He knows it's against the rules to hit the guy in the head, but he wasn't trying to hit the guy in the head. He was trying to make a body contact, and he would have made body contact but the guy did this [deked], and left his head there," Babcock said. "I watched [the replay] many times. What's the onus on the player with the puck?"
Blackhawks forward Viktor Stalberg also left the game early, departing in the first period with a leg injury that Quenneville described as "probably not good, either."
