Video: Kronwall's devastating hit on Havlat in Game 3

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At 13:08 of the first period of Game 3 between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall (notes) unleashed one of the most devastating hits of the postseason on the Blackhawks' Martin Havlat (notes), who was helped to the locker room.

Kronwall received five minutes for "interference" and a game misconduct for this brutal check, which CBC Sports captured along with the aftermath:

Seth Rorabaugh of Empty Netters, which pointed to the video clip, had this take on Kronwall, whom he notes has a history of questionable hits:

"43.1 Charging - A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player or goalkeeper who skates or jumps into, or charges an opponent in any manner."
There's no mention of length or height in terms of how a player a leaves his skate. Maybe its semantics arguing over what kind of penalty Kronwall got, but it was charging in our book. And he could've still been kicked out of the game at the official's discretion.
The bottom line is, Kronwall has gotten away with hits like this for far too long. It's about time he faces some discipline for it, even if it's only within this game tonight. Given how random the NHL's supplemental discipline is, we can't even speculate what Colin Campbell will do.

No kidding. So was it interference? Charging? If you want to label it interference ... sure, even if the puck was in Havlat's skates. Charging? Not so much. He left his feet on impact.

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1. Posted by Lee D Fri May 22, 2009 10:05 pm EDT
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Worst officiating in the first period. That hit was classic.
2. Posted by diehard_wings_fan134096 Fri May 22, 2009 10:07 pm EDT
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whoever wrote that is a hack..........good old-fashoned hockey play and no penalty should have been called.......if havlat actually looked up-ice then maybe he wouldn't have gotten laid out.....
3. Posted by wheresmy401k Fri May 22, 2009 10:07 pm EDT
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damn good hit. period. not dirty. keep your head up havvy.
4. Posted by DAVE B Fri May 22, 2009 10:08 pm EDT
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all 3 hockey experts on ESPN labeled this a clean check are you all from Chicago? It was a clean hit stop crying
5. Posted by Jason Fri May 22, 2009 10:09 pm EDT
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Hawks rule Sure hope Havlat us ok but this is a huuuuuuge rivalry so these things happen. Again Hawks Rule!!
6. Posted by Eric G Fri May 22, 2009 10:10 pm EDT
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Definitely a clean hit by the location of the puck, though I'm not sold Kronwall didn't leave his skates. Though still an excessive penalty call.
7. Posted by DAVE B Fri May 22, 2009 10:11 pm EDT
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Oh yeah all the so-called experts on Yahoo picked Chicago DUH I guess they can play better than Det if they have a 5 on 4 advantage for A WHOLE PERIOD for A CLEAN CHECK
8. Posted by DAVE B Fri May 22, 2009 10:11 pm EDT
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MARY go watch cricket
9. Posted by Mean Green Fri May 22, 2009 10:13 pm EDT
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NEW DRINKING GAME!!! Everytime they say "Knifed away!" you drink!
About the hit.... Looked clean to me, but I don't really like to see that kind of thing, not even from my team. Glad Havlat appears to be ok. Don't blame the refs for making the call they did, this is pretty much the same call made for Weaver's hit on Hudler in the Anaheim series.
10. Posted by schon_sterben Fri May 22, 2009 10:14 pm EDT
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whoa, wild fan here...no skin in this one... that was as painful but as legit as they come
11. Posted by Mean Green Fri May 22, 2009 10:15 pm EDT
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Brown's hit?
12. Posted by otnipj3s Fri May 22, 2009 10:17 pm EDT
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You hear it from age 4.... keep your head up. Clean, tough check. Havlat knew it was coming anyway, he was looking for the puck after he saw Kronwall a second before. No call at all if the game was at a neutral site.
13. Posted by Lexus P Fri May 22, 2009 10:17 pm EDT
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As clean as it comes.
HIT OF THE PLAYOFFS RIGHT THERE.
14. Posted by Lexus P Fri May 22, 2009 10:17 pm EDT
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As clean as it comes.
HIT OF THE PLAYOFFS RIGHT THERE.
15. Posted by Marc M Fri May 22, 2009 10:21 pm EDT
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Best clean hit of the plaoffs!!!
16. Posted by Scott B Fri May 22, 2009 10:21 pm EDT
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CLEAN hit. That was NOT interference - Havlat motioned to play the puck with his stick and missed. Any defender pinching in could have hit him. The only reason Kronwall left his feet in any way was because Havlat fell and Kronwall had no boards or body to balance himself on. If the NHL suspends for this hit then the NHL is now a joke. Seth Rorabaugh obviously has no clue what he's talking about and appears to simply love to whine. I'm sorry Havlat had to leave the game from a LEGAL and CLEAN hit; but, maybe he'll keep his head up from now on.
17. Posted by Randy B Fri May 22, 2009 10:21 pm EDT
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Clean, if brutal. No penalty should have been called.
18. Posted by norticus Fri May 22, 2009 10:22 pm EDT
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That hit is COMPLETELY clean. Kronner being kicked out of the game is a complete joke. The refs weren't even going to call a penalty until Havlat laid there like a dead man for five minutes.
19. Posted by Marc M Fri May 22, 2009 10:23 pm EDT
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Brown hit was a butt-end five minute major uncalled!!
20. Posted by Marc M Fri May 22, 2009 10:26 pm EDT
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Kronwall hit-less than three strides to the hit, elbow down shoulder to the chest up the the chin because Havlat's head was down, puck in the feet of Havlat, brutal results are all Havlats fault!!
21. Posted by Vincanni Fri May 22, 2009 10:27 pm EDT
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A penalty from that? Really? What a joke this league is becoming.
22. Posted by mark t Fri May 22, 2009 10:27 pm EDT
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Kronwall definitely has the rep for leaving his feet, and I think this is just a emotional/reputation call. Tonight's hit was clean. He didn't leave his feet. There was no charging. No head hunting. I hate to see a player hurt, and I would hate to see Kronwall suspended for a perfectly acceptable hit.
23. Posted by lake86 Fri May 22, 2009 10:28 pm EDT
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they called it interference because they said havlat never touched the puck.
24. Posted by Incognito Fri May 22, 2009 10:29 pm EDT
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There's no way that that hit was interference. If it was anything it was charging and I don't believe it was charging either.
It was a vicious, ferocious and devastating hit but it was clean and legal in my opinion.
25. Posted by Marc M Fri May 22, 2009 10:29 pm EDT
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Why is Byfuglien still in the game after the puch on Kronwall five full seconds after the play? I remember a similar hit by Dale Hunter after a whistle that led to a twenty game suspension!!!