St. Louis Blues forward Zack Bolduc (76) was fined by the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Monday for cross-checking Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg. (Steve Roberts-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/023915e1-878c-4c29-a410-9ec161e7c53e.jpeg] St. Louis Blues forward Zack Bolduc (76) was fined by the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Monday for cross-checking Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg. (Steve Roberts-Imagn Images) ST. LOUIS -- Zack Bolduc didn't hesitate when the St. Louis Blues [http://thn.com/stlouis] forward felt like he had to jump in to defend Robert Thomas. Thomas and Nashville Predators [http://thn.com/nashville] defenseman Nick Blankenburg were on a collision course near center ice, and knee-to-knee contact seemed evident. But a potentially dangerous situation was avoided. However, Bolduc saw something that appeared to the quick and naked eye was a targeted attempt at the knee and went right after Blankenburg with 6:27 remaining in the third of a 4-1 Blues win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/latest-news/three-takeaways-from-blues-4-1-win-against-predators-1]. After a review, Blankenburg was assessed a minor for tripping, but Bolduc was given a five-minute major for cross checking and a game misconduct. The NHL's Department of Player Safety came down with a ruling on Monday morning that Bolduc was fined for his actions to the tune of $2,248.26 [https://twitter.com/NHLPlayerSafety/status/1904188877029429563], which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. Whether Blankenburg was trying to target the knee is a debate for whomever, but Thomas was fortunate enough to see the impact was close and was fortunate enough to avoid it, and appreciate the gesture by his teammate. "Much appreciated," Thomas said. "He's a guy that's really exploded, he's feeling comfortable, he's playing amazing hockey, he's playing the right way. It was nice for him to stick up for me and I definitely owe him. "Kind of right when I turned, I saw [Blankenburg]. I didn't know which way he was going to try and hit me. I was just able to get out of the way at the last second." Blues coach Jim Montgomery didn't want to offer his take on the situation but was proud of Bolduc as well for jumping to a teammate's defense. "I am. We're sticking together," Montgomery said. "Just like the scrum at the net front. We all came in and stuck together when they slashed 'Binner' on the hand."
