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Not suspension worthy: Henrik Zetterberg’s hit on Nikita Nikitin

Radek Dvorak, Henrik Zetterberg

Dallas Stars right wing Radek Dvorak (20), of Czech Republic, prepares to clear a puck as Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg (40), of Sweden, gives chase in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Dallas. The Red Wings won 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AP

After all the stuff we saw yesterday with Andrew Ference and Ryan McDonagh, we’ve got a more awkward play courtesy of... Henrik Zetterberg?

Zetterberg was kicked out of last night’s game against Columbus for a play that saw him apparently shove Blue Jackets defenseman Nikita Nikitin from behind into the boards. Nikitin went knees-first into the end boards and down on the ice injured.

Zetterberg was given a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. The play looks really awkward.

Unlike on Ference’s hit, Zetterberg seems to give Nikitin a little shove helping Nikitin lose an edge going into the boards.

Darren Dreger of TSN says that there won’t be any league discipline for the hit because they don’t believe Zetterberg intended to shove Nikitin. Meanwhile, Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch reports that Nikitin is out with a knee injury. Is that the right call here or should Zetterberg at least have a talk with the league?