New Jersey Devils coach John Hynes did not offer a comment postgame about Nikita Kucherov’s big hit on Sami Vatanen during Game 4 of his team’s playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
Kucherov nailed Vatanen with a hit that had some debating its legality.
Kucherov just crunched Sami Vatanen pic.twitter.com/jIdWzfTbug
— Mike Grinnell (@MikeGrinnell_) April 19, 2018
Though Hynes was fuming after the hit and was shown on TV yelling, he declined comment about it after the game.
Hynes on Kucherov hit: “I don’t have any comment on it. It does me no good to get into it.”
— Steve Cangialosi (@CangyManMSG) April 19, 2018
Lightning coach Jon Cooper does not think the hit warrants any discipline from the league.
#TBLightning Cooper on Nikita Kucherov hit on Vatanen: “I thought it was a heck of a hockey hit.” Isn’t worried about discipline.
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) April 19, 2018
Kucherov, who had two goals and an assist in his Lightning’s 3-1 win, said being physical is part of the playoffs. He also says there was no intent to hurt his opponent.
Game 5 will be on Saturday with the Lightning looking to close out the series at home.
