Goaltender can be a squirrelly bunch at the best of times and they certainly don't like being poked at once the whistle has been blown. Netminder Juha Metsola of the KHL's Ufa Salavat Yulayev made that very clear Friday when Yaroslav Kosov of Omsk Avangard appeared to take a whack or two at the puck after Metsola had it covered and the whistle had gone.
A scrum would break out, with Metsola's teammates coming to defend their goaltender. While that was happening, Metsola lifted his stick and brought it down on the top of Kosov's head in an act that seemed to be intentional.
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"This is an emotional moment. Sometimes it happens that emotions need to be thrown out, there was nothing special about it," said Metsola following the game.
While the hit wasn't especially hard, it wasn't exactly a love tap either and likely didn't feel very good. I can't help but think this would have led to a suspension, ar at least a major penalty and/or fine in the NHL.
