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NHL referee taken out by Detroit Red Wings player (Video)

By Phil Naegely

Apr 26, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith (2) checks Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) as goalie Jonas Gustavsson (50) reaches for the puck during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. The Bruins won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith (2) checks Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) as goalie Jonas Gustavsson (50) reaches for the puck during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. The Bruins won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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For the second time this season an NHL referee was hit on the ice by a player.

Hockey is a fast-paced sport. There’s many times when the referees make contact with a player or there’s other incidental contact. On Thursday a Detroit Red Wings player went in to check his opponent but came away hitting the poor referee.

It was an unfortunate sequence of events, but the referee was in the middle of the action and the Red Wings player had his eyes on the opponent and the official stepped into the lane. Unlike the past incident this season in the NHL, this was less egregious and did not look intentional at all. Likewise, it was in the run of play and not during a stoppage in play.

In short the league shouldn’t suspend Smith, but it will be interesting to see what does indeed happens. Hopefully, the referee who was decked is alright and has no serious injuries. Unlike the players, the officials don’t wear as much padding as the players, so the hits will hurt much more.

Overall, it was an unfortunate situation all around, but it happened during live action and did not appear to be intentional unlike a similar situation earlier in the league this season.

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