Hartnell’s knee-on-knee stirs controversy
Posted February 24, 2012 11:00 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Hartnell pleaded his innocence after delivering a knee to Magnus Paajarvi that knocked the Edmonton Oilers’ player out of Thursday night’s game.
“I was just finishing my check. That’s part of my game, being physical,” Hartnell told the Edmonton Journal during the postgame scrum. “Hopefully, he’s all right. I don’t know what happened to him or if he came back, but definitely there wasn’t any intent to injury.”
The Journal reports that Paajarvi’s right knee will be evaluated Friday, and although Hartnell’s kneeing incident (above) was reviewed by the National Hockey League, no further disciplinary measures will be taken.
Hartnell received a two-minute minor penalty for kneeing on the play, which took place late in the second period of the Oilers’ 2-0 shutout of the Flyers. The hit Hartnell delivered was preceded by one the hard-nosed player received, by Corey Potter.
“The replay looked a little worse, obviously. It’s tough to call in real time. I don’t think anybody means to knee anybody. It was an intended hit after Potsie hit him, but I don’t think there’s anybody in this league who would do it purposely, apart from one or two guys,” Edmonton goaltender Devan Dubnyk told the Journal.
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