NHL official comments on King hit

The NHL released the following interview, provided by a pool reporter, from officiating supervisor Kay Whitmore regarding Dwight King’s hit on St. Louis’ Alex Pietrangelo in the second period. King received a two-minute boarding penalty and the Kings scored a shorthanded goal on the ensuing Blues’ power play. Pietrangelo, who went head-first into the glass on the play, did not return to the game.

Question: What did the officials see on Dwight King’s hit, and what went into the decision to give King a two-minute minor?

WHITMORE: “Their judgment of the degree of violence … they deemed it a minor penalty and that’s why they called it a minor. It’s their judgment. They see the whole play unfold and they didn’t deem in this instance obviously that King drove (Pietrangelo) into the boards. It was a hit, he was in a vulnerable position, but they didn’t deem it violent enough to call a major.”

Question: As far as the aftermath, Pietrangelo being cut, did that warrant a five-minute major?

WHITMORE: “In these situations, if a player is cut to the face, and it’s visible right away, instantly, they’ll call a major … in most cases. In this case, they didn’t see the cut, the small cut, under his chin from what I’ve been told until up to a minute or so after when they were over by the bench. So it was a delay, a period of time that went by, and it’s tough for them to go over and say, ‘It’s a major now’ … because they didn’t see it after the scrum. He got off the ice. There was no visible blood. If it was running down his forehead or his cheek, it’s automatic. It’s a major game-misconduct. In this instance, they didn’t see it initially right away. They didn’t see the blood running down his chin, in his beard … one of those things.”

Question: Do you expect the play to be reviewed?

WHITMORE: “I expect Brendan (Shanahan)’s group watches, as do our guys in Toronto … every goal is reviewed, every hit is reviewed. So I don’t see this any different than any other hit in the playoffs up to this date. So I’m sure if something more needs to be done with it, Brendan and his group will be taking a look at it.”