Flames' Lucic on Smith hit: 'If I actually did charge, we both wouldn't be playing'
Milan Lucic and his head coach are on the same page - the situation could have been a whole lot worse.
The bruising Calgary Flames forward was assessed a five-minute major and ejected from the third period of Sunday's Game 3 loss to Edmonton after barrelling into Oilers' goaltender Mike Smith.
Lucic appeared to try and let up on the play, but still sent the veteran netminder flying with Calgary trailing 4-0.
“They called it charging, correct?” Flames bench boss Darryl Sutter said following a 4-1 Edmonton victory that pushed the Oilers ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. “Could you imagine if (Lucic) did charge, what would have happened there? He actually tried to slow it down a little bit, I think.
“It is what it is. It was the score and who it was. That's what they called.”
Lucic, who once levelled Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller as a member of the Boston Bruins more than decade ago, chose his words carefully when speaking with the media Monday, but echoed Sutter's overall thoughts.
“I wasn't trying to hit (Smith)I was breaking,” said the 33-year-old, a hulking six foot three and 231 pounds. “I don't think I really want to get into what I was thinking or what I was trying to do or if he sold it or if he didn't.
“But I think I agree with Darryl in the sense of, if I actually did charge we both wouldn't be playing (in Game 4).”
Lucic added later the Flames, who finished atop the Pacific Division before besting the Dallas Stars in seven games in the opening round, need to take a step back after consecutive performances that weren't up to their standard following a 9-6 victory in Game 1.
“This is a good time to just decompress,” he said. “And realize that it's great to be in second round of the playoffs, playing the Battle of Alberta.
“Take a few deep breaths and just soak it all in and enjoy it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.