During last night’s Game 6 won by the Lightning over the Red Wings, Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall delivered a big hit on Tampa forward Nikita Kucherov. There was no penalty on the play. Kronwall is having a hearing for the hit today with Game 7 tomorrow.

From our vantage point, Kronwall comes across and delivers a shoulder to chest hit on a leaning Kucherov who just released the puck along the boards. He was in a vulnerable position. Due to that, Kronwall caught both upper chest and chin of Kucherov. That makes the hit questionable which is why it’s being reviewed.

This is a tough one. From one aspect, Kronwall was making a hockey play by hitting an opposing player with the puck. But the speed of the game is so fast that once Kucherov got rid of it, the onus is on Kronwall to avoid contacting the face. The head isn’t the principle point of contact. There wasn’t enough time for Kronwall to change course.

Former NHL official Kerry Fraser chimed in on both this hit and Alex Ovechkin’s dangerous hit from behind on Islander defenseman Thomas Hickey. His point of contention is that Kronwall launched himself into Kucherov which is illegal. That’s charging. He’s correct. The determining factor will probably be Kucherov’s status. He wasn’t injured. My guess is they’ll pass on suspending Kronwall.

UPDATE: For once, the NHL didn’t pass on disciplining a player with a Game 7 tomorrow. Kronwall was suspended a game for charging Kucherov. I can’t disagree with the ruling. As Fraser said, Kronwall left his feet to make the hit. Had he not, he would’ve been fine. So, Detroit loses their top defenseman for Game 7 at Tampa Wednesday. That should be interesting.

As for Ovechkin’s hit on Hickey, that was dangerous and should’ve resulted in at least a double minor for boarding. Instead, nothing was called. Fraser felt it was bad enough to be a major and game. Ovechkin stayed in and the Caps prevailed 2-1 over the Isles advancing to a second round match-up against the Rangers.