Berglund Headshot on Chytil

[SCD]

The only reason Chytil took any of that to the face was because he turned at the last second and he was leaning forward. With that being said, the head was only barely the principle point of contact. It's obvious Berglund was trying to put his body into Chytil's chest. If Chytil isn't bent over like that, then it's simply a body shot.

After his head snaps back out of the way, yes his chest is the next principle point of contact. Watch the video in the first post.

Although Berglund didn't change his positioning to magnify the hit, he did nothing to avoid initial contact with the head.

Also, the ref is clearly watching the puck in that video, not the hit.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It’s not interference. Here’s the applicable rule.


Rule 48 – Illegal Check to the Head

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head where the head was the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.

In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be considered:

(i) Whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the opponent’s body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the body upward or outward.

(ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full body check unavoidable.

(iii) Whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way that significantly contributed to the head contact.

48.2 Minor Penalty – For violation of this rule, a minor penalty shall be assessed.
48.3 Major Penalty – There is no provision for a major penalty for this rule.
48.4 Game Misconduct Penalty – There is no provision for a game
misconduct for this rule.
48.5 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.
If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Great hit! Berglund stayed down and through the body, and caught him admiring his pass. It’s not even worth an interference penalty. I mean seriously, Chytil passed the puck maybe what 10 feet? And he got hit before that pass could even get there. That’s not late



It’s post worthy, but only because it was an awesome hit

Those are great excuses and all but you still can clearly see the shoulder hit him solidly in the head. If it hadn't then it wouldn't be worth a penalty.

Edit. I see later you realized that.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Most Sabres fans would be happy to see Berglund sit for a while, but that hit doesn't even rate a fine.

I don’t agree with you....at all. Berglund played a solid game last night.

 

[pvr]

Berglund looked to be lining Chytil for a hit to his back or perhaps flank, slightly late.

Chytil turns into the hit, changing the angle and point of contact.

Berglund imo still had a fleeting opportunity to jump out of the way or change his hit angle. Arms are tucked and he didn’t jump.

Principle point of contact looks to be the head.

I believe this will come down to whether the league believes Chytil changing his position puts the onus back on him, or whether Berglund shouldn’t have been attempting the hit at all.

 

[Thorton02]

I thought Chytil ran right into Berg's shoulder. Players need to keep their heads up.

 

[Maliks PlusMinus]

I wouldn't have called interference, I thought he could hit him for sure, just not in the head. Looked a headshot to me, but probably accidental. This was the tip of the iceberg as far as the refs went, though. Terribly officiated.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Better angle. Clearly a dirty hit, the league is looking at it btw.

Nah

 

[BlueDream]

Berglund is 6'4''. This was the case of a smaller player simply running into him. I know Chytil is only a couple inches shorter but he was crouched down so that makes for a much larger height difference on this play.

This isn't a headshot at all. Where else is Berglund's shoulder going to go?

 

[Holtbyisms]

20 games!!!!!

 

[trick9]

I'm gonna say it... If this was Wilson people would be going insane...

2 minutes for interference to a regular NHL'er, 40 games for Wilson.

 

[Butch 19]

unfortunate but berglund is the furthest thing from dirty

happens sometimes, bergie didnt even really throw a hit towards him just kept lined up with chytils movement

Not anymore. If he has no history, this should be 2 games. He targeted the head full force - end of story. Now he's dirty.

This was uglier than Wilson's latest - at least he got the shoulder.

 

[crosby87]

he literally had the puck not even 1 second before the hit lol, and he also turned straight into him.

 

[stampedingviking]

Chytil skated right into him.

Yep, more on Chytil than Berglund.

Watch where you're going kid.

 

[Royal Thunder]

Most Sabres fans would be happy to see Berglund sit for a while, but that hit doesn't even rate a fine.

No we wouldn't actually. He played well last night.

Not anymore. If he has no history, this should be 2 games. He targeted the head full force - end of story. Now he's dirty.

This was uglier than Wilson's latest - at least he got the shoulder.

Yikes. Clearly was incidental contact.

 

[Sojourn]

he literally had the puck not even 1 second before the hit lol, and he also turned straight into him.

Yeah. You couldn’t see that in the initial post replay. It was a bit misleading.

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

obviously this was a complete accident, and he did have the puck shortly before contact.

 

[izzy]

I don’t agree with you....at all. Berglund played a solid game last night.

people dont realize how berglund does all the little things

he doesnt put up huge numbers but hes great defensively and dominates puck battles. guy could have the puck in the corner with 3 players trying to take it and come out with the puck

 

[sabresEH]

The player is absolutely NOT eligible to be hit after releasing the puck a second later, not sure where you made that up from. Usually they give a .2-.3 second grace period on a major hit and allow minor nothing hits. Not lining a guy up after he passes the puck. It’s a avoidable hit.

The last player to touch the puck, other than the goalkeeper, shall be considered the player in possession. The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately following his loss of possession.

That is from the NHL rulebook. Seeing as how the player he was leaving the drop pass to is picking up the puck as contact is made between berglund and chytil I would say it is not interference.
The one second rule is an unofficial rule I heard from the older generation while I watched games with them.

 

[Sojourn]

To be fair, just looking at the replay, you might be able to say the hit was a little late. I don't have a stopwatch out, and I'm just kind of going by the feel of the time that passed between the puck leaving his stick and the hit. It might be a little late.

But a little late is worlds different than saying that Berglund made that hit when Chytil didn't have the puck. That implies Chytil wasn't eligible to be hit at all, and that just isn't true. If it was late, it was only just late, and he had just dished off the puck. If there was going to be an issue with the hit, I think that is where it would start. He was eligible, but it might have been a little late.

The rest of it, I feel, is more unfortunate circumstance. Berglund is a big boy, and Chytil had a pretty deep knee bend as he cut towards Berglund right as the hit was made. He actually turned right into Berglund. I can see why the NHL might want to look at it, but I don't think there is anything here that deserves more than a look.

 

[Butch 19]

Yep, more on Chytil than Berglund.

Watch where you're going kid.

Why doesn't Wilson get this consideration?

LOL... "watch where you're going..." yes, blame the victim

 

[Machinehead]

I'm gonna say it... If this was Wilson people would be going insane...

If this was Wilson, he would have hit him higher and harder.

 

[DearDiary]

Why doesn't Wilson get this consideration?

LOL... "watch where you're going..." yes, blame the victim

Tom Wilson raises his shoulder at the last second to maximize the chance of an injury. Berglund lowers himself to lower the chances of causing an injury. It's not difficult to understand, Wilson is a rare breed left from the old NHL that hits to injure

 

[Butch 19]

Tom Wilson raises his shoulder at the last second to maximize the chance of an injury. Berglund lowers himself to lower the chances of causing an injury. It's not difficult to understand, Wilson is a rare breed left from the old NHL that hits to injure

LOL - Berglund lowers himself a bit to maximize his hit to the face. He hit him right where he intended.

Have you not seen the video yet? See the OP. It's quite obvious.

 

[SatanwasaSlovak]

Chytil should learn ice-awarness. You can't just expect nobody to body-check you if you have the puck in the offensive zone. He had only himself to blame for that hit by putting himself into a dangerous position. Probably how the ref thought of it aswell.