Niklas Kronwall DESTROYS Anders Lee - Dec 8, 2018 (HD - 60FPS)

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DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall is 37 and likely in his last season, but he’s still delivering crushing open-ice hits.

Anders Lee of the New York Islanders was the latest to be “Kronwalled,” Saturday at Little Caesars Arena. The hit seemed to ignite the Islanders, who erased an early two-goal deficit and defeated the Red Wings 3-2.

Kronwall leveled Lee at 16:01 of the first period near the Detroit blue line. Lee had his head down and was rushing the puck up the ice when Kronwall stepped into him, making contact with his shoulder and head. Lee was down for a bit but skated to the dressing room on his own accord and returned to the game midway through the second period.

His teammates immediately sought retribution. Lee absolved Kronwall.

“I had my head down, looking for the puck in my skates, and he hit me with a good shoulder check,” Lee said. “That's hockey.”

Lee needed stitches for cuts on his lip, nose and forehead.

Kronwall said he simply stepped up to make a hit.

“The hard part when you’re coming north-south is to not touch the head at all,” Kronwall said. “I think when you’re skating, you’re in a position where your head is basically the point of your body that’s the most forward. You try to go through the chest or shoulder. Sometimes you end up catching the head.”


Story via: mlive.com