NHL determines Chara hit on Kane wasn’t hit to head

The Hockey Central at Noon panel discuss whether or not Zdeno Chara’s hit on Evander Kane was avoidable, and whether or not Chara’s height affected the outcome of the hit, which was questionable at best.

The NHL has determined that the fight-sparking hit Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara delivered to San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane Tuesday night wasn’t a hit to the head under Rule 48, Sportsnet’s John Shannon reports.

Early in the third period during Tuesday’s Bruins-Sharks tilt, Chara delivered a hit to Kane along the end boards in the Boston zone. The Sharks winger was leaning in trying to poke for the puck, resulting in what appeared to be contact from Chara to Kane’s head as the veteran Bruins blue-liner came in to cut him off.

Kane took great exception to this, believing the play to be dirty, and immediately jumped Chara, causing the two to drop their gloves.

And despite the NHL’s official ruling, it would appear Kane still very much disagrees with the non-call, as denoted by a very pointed post he made on Twitter Wednesday morning.

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