The Phoenix Coyotes had about the worst five-minute span you could imagine on Tuesday night.
Moments before Los Angeles punched its ticket to the Stanley Cup Final with an overtime game-winner, Coyotes defenseman Michal Rozsival had to be helped off the ice following a controversial knee-to-knee hit by Kings captain Dustin Brown.
The legality of the hit is certainly debatable, although it appears Brown made full-body contact. Nevertheless, the damage was done, which had some Coyotes howling.
Captain Shane Doan and teammate Martin Hanzal both had words with Brown during the postgame handshake line — frustration that spilled over into the Phoenix locker room.
“If Raffi Torres gets 25 games for his hit during the play then this guy [Brown] ought to be done forever,” goalie Mike Smith was quoted in a tweet by Fox Sports Arizona reporter Mark McClune.
We’ll see if Brendan Shanahan at least discusses the incident with Brown before the start of the Stanley Cup Final next Wednesday.
