BOSTON — Nikita Zadorov was trying to score not run over Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner late in the first period of the Bruins’ 4-0 loss to the Oilers, Tuesday.
Zadorov was rushing up the ice toward the net hoping for a tying goal with the Bruins down 1-0. He was crossing from the right wing across the goal mouth when he collided with Skinner.
The goalie tumbled, sprawling to the ice as his mask came off.
Zadorov thought Brett Kulak had shoved him behind with his forearm creating the contact. The Bruins blueliner was frustrated that not only did Kulak go unpenalized, but he was called for goaltender interference, the 14th different infraction of the season for Zadorov. He pleaded his case with referee Chris Rooney to no avail.
“I spoke to Chris. He thought it wasn’t enough push for me to skate into (Skinner). I’m a big guy and I had enough speed, that a push from behind, I couldn’t really get out of the way,” he said. “I was trying get my hands around him and try to put it far side to score a goal. Unfortunately, it happened like this. It was obviously an accident.”
Oilers medical staff attended to Skinner, who briefly left the game to be evaluated for a concussion, Calvin Pickard played 5:25 before Skinner returned, but didn’t face a shot.
While Zadorov was frustrated by the call, he still made it a point to tell Skinner, the collision wasn’t intentional.
“I skated to him. I wouldn’t want to hurt anybody on the ice. I wouldn’t anybody to do that to my goalie either,” Zadorov said. “I felt like it was fair to say there was no intention to hurt anybody out there.”
The goalie appreciated the gesture.
“He got me pretty good,” Skinner said. “I think that’s like the fifth hit I’ve got this year. He apologized after at the start of the second period, which was really nice of him to do. It’s an NHL play. It happened.”
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