Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson wasn’t claiming innocence Sunday after his game misconduct penalty on Saturday earned him an ejection in a game against Minnesota. But he did lob a verbal jab back at the Wild’s Erik Haula.
Johnson was tossed in the second period after catching Haula in the face on a hip check against the boards in the second period. Haula fell to the ice and grabbed his face. And Johnson was immediately ejected for a hit to Haula’s head.
Johnson said he does not expect a fine or suspension from the NHL for the hit. But he did speak his piece.
“I don’t. I expect Haula to be up for an Academy Award,” Johnson said. “They’re trying to get embellishment out of the freaking league. And it wasn’t a vicious hit.”
Erik Johnson. (The Denver Post)
Haula, after the game, that Johnson did not elbow him in the head.
“He caught me with his hand, I think,” Haula said.
In the ensuing brouhaha, while Johnson was escorted to the locker room, Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog told Haula “to stay down since I was hurt so bad,” Oh snap.
Avalanche coach Patrick Roy after the game also said he doesn’t expect a league punishment for Johnson.
“I’d be very surprised, very surprised. Very surprised,” (He really did say it three times, for effect).
Without Johnson, their most active blue-liner, the , 2-0.
The hit also wasn’t the only the thing the NHL might take a gander at from Saturday’s game:
Roy tried to put fourth line on the ice at end and refs shrewdly kicked them off. It’ll be interesting how looks at gm after his quote
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib)
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Many Wild players and Yeo gave props to the referee awareness to boot Avs’ 4th line off ice with 3 secs left. “It is what it is.”
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib)
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The quote from Roy in this case came , when the coach said, in reference to Matt Cooke’s season-ending hit on Tyson Barrie:
“One day, it might be the opposite. One of our players will hurt one of their guys. And I’m sure everybody is going to be very happy to remind (Minnesota) what happened to Tyson Barrie.”
The Avs, by the way, practiced for quite awhile Sunday morning before rushing to catch a flight to Boston. :
