It was a frustrating Game 2 for the St. Louis Blues. Forced to play without defensive leader Alex Pietrangelo, who missed the game with an upper-body injury, the Blues looked destabilized and shaky in the first, surrendering a wholly unexpected 4 goals. (Is it too late to nominate Pietrangelo for the Norris?) By the third period, it was 5-2.
When you get shelled like that on home ice, you just want to flatten someone. Lucky for T.J. Oshie, he got his chance in the third period when Dustin Penner just happened to collect the puck behind the Kings goal.
HE. GOT. PANCAKED.
This hit is especially impressive for two reasons: first, Penner is, as you know, a rather large specimen, and Oshie launches him with some serious force.
Second, it's a completely clean hit in the tail end of a blowout -- a novel concept these days.
That doesn't prevent a scrum from ensuing, mind you. The next two minutes are pure chaos, with gloves a-flying, Penner attempting to pull David Perron's head off for some reason and Oshie losing a contact lens. But still -- progress.
Prior to the series, Oshie said the more physical team would win. That doesn't hold up when you surrender as many goals as the Blues did Monday, but it's probably safe to consider the high score of Game 2 an anomaly. Expect the physicality to be front and centre for Game 3 in Los Angeles, especially after Oshie set the stage here.
Update: Because he is a notoriously good sport, Penner tweeted about the hit after the game:
