In Monday night's Wild game against the hated Vancouver Canucks, Ryan Kesler went low on Cal Clutterbuck, sending Clutterbuck flying over him and incurring a minor penalty for clipping. The hit was reminiscent of a hit Boston's Brad Marchand put on Vancouver's Sami Salo earlier this year, a hit Vancouver GM Mike Gillis called " a dirty hit by a dirty player."
Mike Russo wrote that the hit may receive scrutiny from the Department of Player Safety, but Hockey Wilderness had their doubts. Puck Daddy today reports that Kesler will avoid any punishment for the hit, and will skate in a game with playoff implications tomorrow night against the Chicago Blackhawks. Brendan Shanahan says the hit was "not overly vicious," and that the NHL would remember this hit if Kesler makes a similar hit again.
Video of the hit, and the Marchand hit are after the jump. You make the call.
Last night's hit:
Marchand hit on Salo:
Can anyone explain why one gets suspended and the other doesn't? (Hint: Marchand injured Salo. Kesler did not injusre Clutterbuck.)