Nikita Kucherov could became the latest to draw the attention of the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
The Lightning star, minutes after potting the go-ahead goal midway through the first period of Wednesday's Game 4 against the Devils, delivered a suspicious blow above the shoulders of Sami Vatanen, sending the New Jersey defenseman flying to the ice and then the locker room.
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Sami Vatanen headed to the locker room after this hit from Nikita Kucherov. pic.twitter.com/tw3Bap5zHK
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) April 19, 2018
Kucherov wasn't penalized on the play, but appeared to leave his feet, which drew scrutiny from onlookers. It wasn't clear whether his shoulder made contact with Vatanen's head. Critics will cite the one-game suspension given to Kings defenseman Drew Doughty for a similar hit last week on Golden Knights' William Carrier.
Vatanen remained in the Devils' locker room as the teams returned for the second period. An update on his condition was not immediately available.
In the aftermath of the hit, the teams played out a chippy first period that saw several scrums. Lightning forward Adam Killorn went to the box for boarding Ben Lovejoy, drawing the first. Then, with 42 seconds remaining, a retribution-seeking Brian Boyle took a run at Kucherov, prompting a scuffle that put the Lightning on a power play with a 2-1 lead.
Killorn's called for this hit on Lovejoy. #GoBolts and #NJDevils continuing where they left off last game pic.twitter.com/Y3NkKGdHOz
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) April 19, 2018
Hit during play that sparked this pic.twitter.com/vli10AUkDg
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) April 19, 2018
Already in these playoffs, the NHL has issued three suspensions for questionable hits to Doughty, Toronto's Nazem Kadri (three games) and Winnipeg's Josh Morrissey, whose one-game ban was announced shortly before the Lightning and Devils dropped the puck. A suspension for Kucherov, a presumptive Hart Trophy finalist, would be a big, if unexpected statement from the league, which has come under fire for a perceived lack of consistency handing out supplemental discipline.
Tampa held a 2-1 series lead entering Game 4.