Sometimes you take the penalty. Vasily Podkolzin didn't react immediately with violence when his Edmonton Oilers captain, Connor McDavid went down on a suspect hit from Anaheim Ducks' Drew Helleson. His first concern was McDavid's wellbeing. But once the Oilers' superstar was up, and angrily calling out the hit, Podkolzin stepped forward to do what needed to be done.
Anyone who has played hockey knows that, while it's a high speed game, you have enough reaction time to make decisions on contact. To me, there's no question that Helleson saw the number and name bar on the Oilers Hometown Remix jersey and made a conscious decision to hit McDavid into the Ducks' goalpost. McDavid was down for long enough to raise eyebrows, and concerns, and with no apparent power play coming, the message needed to be sent.
It's worth noting that McDavid did head down the tunnel once he made his way back to the bench. When the adrenaline wears off, its possible he'll be sore enough to miss time. That's why something had to be done in response.
Hitting stars has to come with consequences
At the time I'm writing this article, the Oilers are down 0-1 after the Ducks managed a single power play goal in the 5 minute advantage they were granted following Podkolzin's one-sided fight. If they end up losing the game, it was still the right move. We can have a separate conversation about Helleson's reluctance to own the consequences of his actions, but Podkolzin's big fists should have him thinking twice next time he's presented with the back of a star player's jersey.
The game's physicality increased drastically after that play. The Oilers looking for their pound of flesh and Anaheim doing its best not to back down. Podkolzin brings more than just toughness to the ice and his absence will be felt for the balance of the game, on the power play and at 5-on-5. But nevertheless, it was the right decision.
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