DETROIT – The Florida Panthers are not happy after Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader laid out Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov during Monday's game at Joe Louis Arena.
Barkov had to leave the game after the hit.
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The only penalty called on the play was to Florida's Alex Petrovic for a retaliatory cross check on Abdelkader. Watch the video below.
“It was a cheap hit, I don’t know how the ref didn’t call it,” Nick Bjugstad told the Miami Herald. “It was frustrating, the whole bench felt that way. We’re not happy with it. It turned the game around. Barkov has tough shoes to fill. It looked pretty serious. We’ll see how the league handles it and I think they will. I just don’t know how it wasn’t handled on the ice.”
“You hate to lose your top player, but that’s part of the game,” added Panthers’ head coach Gerard Gallant.
“We’re disappointed to lose him. I thought it was a cheap shot but the referees didn’t see it that way and explained to me it was a clean check. It’s tough. It happens quick and we get to see the replay. I think it’ll be looked at. [Abdelkader] left his feet a little and got him in the jaw.”
The Red Wings won the game, 3-0.
UPDATE:
Abdelkader will not face any disciplinary action from NHl, according to NBC Sports.