There was no shortage of physical play between the Toronto Maple Leafs and L.A. Kings in the first period of Thursday’s game.
Kings’ forward Milan Lucic threw a crushing check on Nazem Kadri with just under four minutes remaining in the opening period. Kadri had just turned around after picking up the puck along the goal line, when he was met with a thunderous hit from Lucic.
Toronto blue liner Roman Polak was given a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct for a dangerous hit into the boards on Tyler Toffoli.
Below is a clip of the Polak hit on Toffoli. (Courtesy @myregularface)
Even referee Kelly Sutherland was shaken up after a collision with Kings’ defenseman Jake Muzzin.
Kelly Sutherland returns to the game for the second. #TMLtalk
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 8, 2016