Predators Not Happy with Kirill Kaprizov's Hit on Alexandre Carrier: "It Was a Little Predatory"
Kaprizov appeared to hit Predators' defenseman Alexandre Carrier in the head in the first period of Thursday's game and Carrier did not return.
The Nashville Predators' six game win streak ended with a 6-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, but the Predators also lost defenseman Alexandre Carrier who left the game in the first period after what appeared to be a hit to the head by Kirill Kaprizov.
Kaprizov led with the shoulder into Carrier who didn't have possession of the puck at the time of the contact. While the referees penalized Kaprizov two minutes for interference at 7:30 in the first period, the officials did not review the play even though there was head contact. Carrier got up, skated slowly off the ice, and headed down the tunnel. He did not return for the remainder of the game.
"I thought it was a bad hit, honestly," Roman Josi said after the game. "He's in a vulnerable position and there's no reason for Kaprizov to hit him there. I think those are the kind of hits you don't want in the game."
After the play, Ryan O'Reilly spoke to the officials.
"I was talking to the refs and I said there was head contact. It should be been reviewed," O'Reilly said. "I was talking with him and asked him to review it and they just didn't seem like it was possible."
Head coach Andrew Brunette also felt it could have been called a five minute penalty and reviewed. Brunette also felt like the hit was "a little predatory".
It remains to be seen if the Department of Player Safety will take a closer look at Kaprizov's hit on Carrier.
