The NHL is going to have a difficult time ruling on this hit by Matt Beleskey on Derek Stepan. Beleskey shouldered Stepan, sending the Rangers forward crashing into the boards. Stepan was forced to leave the game with an injury and it was reported he had broken ribs.
Is this a late/dirty hit?
https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/670324230458884101
And a second look:
https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/670324542087237632
There’s shoulder-to-shoulder contact, so that eliminates any hit to head argument. The hit came after Stepan released the puck (approximately two seconds), but that’s right on the line of what’s deemed a late hit. Stepan appears to be totally oblivious that a hit is coming, which explains why he crashed so heavily into the boards.
Can Beleskey really be faulted for finishing his check when the league preaches to do as such? The timing of the hit is in a gray area, but the league doesn’t have a set rule for what’s considered a late hit and what’s considered finishing a check.
