Le règlement n'interdit pas aux joueurs de frapper un gardien qui s'aventure à l'extérieur de son filet, mais Miller, qui pèse 175 livres, venait de se débarrasser de la rondelle quand Lucic, qui en pèse 220, s'est rué sur lui. Lucic n'a pas cherché à séparer Miller de la rondelle, mais carrément à blesser le gardien des Sabres. Ce qu'il a réussi à faire puisque Miller souffre d'une commotion cérébrale.
Et le règlement stipule que le contact avec le gardien est permis seulement s'il s'agit d'un accident et que le joueur a tout mis en oeuvre pour l'éviter.
69.4 Contact Outside the Goal Crease - If an attacking player initiates any contact with a goalkeeper, other than incidental contact, while the goalkeeper is outside his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed. A goalkeeper is not "fair game" just because he is outside the goal crease. The appropriate penalty should be assessed in every case where an attacking player makes unnecessary contact with the goalkeeper. However, incidental contact will be permitted when the goalkeeper is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such unnecessary contact.
When a goalkeeper has played the puck outside of his crease and is then prevented from returning to his crease area due to the deliberate actions of an attacking player, such player may be penalized for goalkeeper interference. Similarly, the goalkeeper may be penalized, if by his actions outside of his crease he deliberately interferes with an attacking player who is attempting to play the puck or an opponent.
Ça ne devrait pas nous surprendre compte tenu des antécédents des Bruins et de son entraîneur Claude Julien, mais si la Ligue continue à tolérer ce genre de coup, on s'arrête où?