2:30 PM: Adding to this move, Tampa Bay has reassigned Crozier to the minor leagues. He served as the team’s seventh defenseman, but still dressed, for Saturday’s game – and could be called up again should Lilleberg face suspension.
11 AM: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Martinsen Lilleberg is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for interference against Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher in Saturday night’s loss. The hit came at 11:31 in the second period when Lilleberg stepped up for a late hit after Compher dumped the puck into the zone. The hit seemed high but it wasn’t clear if it contacted Compher’s head. Lilleberg received a two-minute penalty.
Lilleberg has been one of many depth defensemen to step up amid Tampa Bay’s string of blue-line injuries. He’s appeared in 45 of the team’s 48 games this season, rotating through roles on all three pairs. He has 11 assists and 76 penalty minutes on the year while playing in as little as 14 minutes or as much as 22 minutes each night. Lilleberg reached 82 career appearances with his last game, though he’s still searching for his first career goal. He recorded five assists and 16 penalty minutes in 37 appearances last season.
Tampa Bay saw the return of Erik Cernak in their Saturday matchup against Detroit, but they’re still without top-four defender J.J. Moser. Darren Raddysh has continued to serve next to Victor Hedman on the top pair, while Lilleberg and Nicklaus Perbix make up the bottom pair. Should Lilleberg face any form of suspension, the Bolts will likely turn towards one of Maxwell Crozier or Declan Carlile. The former has been the team’s de facto fill-in this month, but Carlile is the only left-shot of the team’s many injury fill-ins. Carlile has seven points and 37 penalty minutes in 36 AHL games this season, but has only played in one NHL game.
Ya that’s a garbage hit as he goes high and late. Probably should only be a game as it wasn’t completely egregious, but as a guy that plays on the line he’s going to have to clean those up.
Lilleberg is a beast, Incredible strength, And he can handle the heavyweights, The Lightning have found there new Gudas.
and what about Kuch for the trip with an empty net last night that injured the Redwings player?
or is Kucherov untouchable because his dangerous plays are fairly hidden
That was purely accidental & Kuch even went to check on him immediately after the play as the player even stick tapped Kuch as things were fine between them. There was nothing malicious as both were going for the puck & got tangled up. You’re making mountains out of mull hills.
what are you talking about. the player easily had the puck and he stuck his stick right at the blade. watch some more hockey before you comment.
typically players dont get suspended or fined for tripping, though sometimes can be bad or look bad, its still not really the same thing as boarding or interference, tripping just isn’t really a suspendible offense or even fine-worthy, I’m not biased here as i dont like the lightning you just can’t expect action for a Tripping other than a 2 minute minor
I get there won’t be a fine or suspension. it’s just Kucherov pulls this garbage almost nightly and especially when the Lightning lose. he’s not as obvious as mcdavids cross check or a punch, but that stick in the blade play is dangerous. Rasmussen left with an injury and we have seen those plays result in broken legs and ankles numerous times.
Agree and why isn’t Kucherov having a meeting with NHL player safety? Is it because he’s a NHL stud and those players are exempt from punishment. What a POS move by a minor league commissioner!
Wonder if he’s any relation to Roger Crozier.