I say:
1. It was not interference.
2. Kronwall did not leave his feet prior to hitting Havlat.
3. Clean hit. The Chicago scrum afterward was more dangerous (in terms of inducing injury on Havlat) than the hit itself.
Judge for yourself:
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it wasnt interference? Havlat never touched the puck.
I think if you look closely the puck does touch Havlat’s skate.
If I may quote rule 56.1 on Interference:
“The last player to touch the puck, other than the goalkeeper, shall be considered the player in possession. The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately following his loss of possession.”
So, if Havlat did touch the puck, even with his skate, he was in posession of the puck.
Moreover, neither ref actually called it a penalty…the penalty was called by the linesman.
I agree. I guess I could see why have arguably been a penalty (slightly), but a game misconduct? Please.
I guess if you get hurt in today’s NHL, someone has to pay.