Nicolas Hague Avoids 5 Minute Major Penalty For Hit Against Vladislav Namestnikov

All rights go to the NHL. I do not own the music and the footage used in this video. For entertainment purposes only.

[@independentmind7782]

"A minor penalty for an illegal hit to the head" wtf lol

[@hoozoohleague8264]

Vegas

[@MachoManAndySavage125]

Yes. It exists and has been called a lot of times in the past.

[@csharp48]

​@@MachoManAndySavage125don't tell anyone, it's been called on head hit to a Vegas player before.

[@MachoManAndySavage125]

@@csharp48 hahaha. That wouldn’t fit the narrative though.

[@Ahmed-oc5gi]

It is obvious now! Why Vegas dished out a lots of dough to become a NHL franchise? So they don’t to follow the same rules like the other teams! Thank you Greyhound!

[@DrocksErocks]

This league is unserious about player safety. They’re rules are ass backwards. What the fuck makes an illegal check to the head 2 minutes vs 5 minute major. He hit him IN THE FUCKING HEAD. The league has to stop with this bromance they have with Vegas

[@tripsaplenty1227]

What about George Parros Department of Player Safety is not serious?

[@phillipsoriano7828]

Bro, it’s not Hagues fault namestnikov is like 6 inches shorter, and he’s bent over, Hague played the puck and braces for a hit. Correct call was made.

[@stickhockey]

@@phillipsoriano7828 exactly bruh

[@iconiclucid3663]

@@phillipsoriano7828 same thing happened to Dillon on a hit on Acciari and he sat for 3 games.

[@phillipsoriano7828]

@@iconiclucid3663 I guess we’ll have to see what the league does about this.

[@roland8775]

Both Zadorov and Myers on the Canucks got 5 minutes, a game misconduct, and suspensions for hits that were no more severe than this.

[@arabjude8314]

Or just as severe… headshots have no place in any sport except Boxing and MMA.

[@bruce-xi4xc]

Respect to Scheifele for standing up but wtf was that?

[@atalusgaming2443]

Mark hit on Evan’s? Yeah no

[@timmyjohnson1195]

@@atalusgaming2443are you weird or are you a man’s?

[@johnlocke_1]

Schiefele is such a loser. Takes two swings, falls to the ice _and kicks his feet up_ Ridiculous.

[@2mnxffrddfghjbbvcdfh6644bcddcv]

Not a 5 minute penalty? So much for the NHL cracking down on headshots? Vegas seems like the mafia of the NHL

[@TheGothalosism]

Because he wasnt going for the hit. He got the puck first and his momentum carried him into the jets forward. Just happened when the jets guy was already falling over.

[@d2c341]

Because it is.

[@2mnxffrddfghjbbvcdfh6644bcddcv]

That's not how it works, I played Junior hockey, I know how to avoid hitting someone's head, you turn. That penalty was a 2 minute head shot penalty​@@TheGothalosism

[@tylerhillman8390]

Did you not remember when the vgk were given a 5 minute major because Joe Pavelski fell down? Or how bout when Keegan Kolesar got ground pounded by Evander Kane and Kane didn’t even get a minor? The league is anti Vegas

[@DontChaH8Pants2]

Why the f did Scheifele get 2, 5 and 10 for that? Hague's gloves were off as soon as he saw Scheifele coming towards him. How is that an instigator?

[@SRACHER]

It's not. At this point the refs have no idea either they just guess.

[@j.thomas7128]

Ten years ago. That wasn't even two minutes. His elbow was tucked on contact. Dude getting hit again, put himself in a bad position by squatting low. You can't be allowed to duck a hit. If you did, it would take all hitting out of the game.

[@jacksharp1143]

He leaned into it, doesn’t matter if your elbow is tucked at that point. And he’s not ducking a hit he’s reaching for the puck, not the brightest idea to put yourself in that position but the hitting player needs to have control and not headshot him.

[@tuttifrutti8576]

@@jacksharp1143 So you think in a league as competitive as the NHL the rules should give a smaller player the advantage in every hitting situation just because their head is lower? The play needs to be reckless or intentional for it to be a penalty since penalties can decide entire games

[@jacksharp1143]

@@tuttifrutti8576 no, I’m saying the hitting player still needs to have control of themselves and not go into a hit without any thought or target the head as I believe is the case here. And in the case a players tries to stick their head out it’s pretty easy to spot and no penalty should be assessed.

[@tuttifrutti8576]

@@jacksharp1143 Have you ever played hockey or a similar contact sport? Having to dodge a player who randomly drops in front of you is a huge burden when you’re just trying to make a play. So it’s a huge advantage to the smaller player. The smaller player should just decide to not reach instead of the hitter having to be cautious for no good reason.

[@jacksharp1143]

@@tuttifrutti8576 I have, hockey and rugby. You’re handcuffing the offensive player so someone else doesn’t hurt him. The player initiating contact should be doing so in a manner that doesn’t put someone else at risk. It’s really not that hard.

[@timstanding473]

Dillon/Acciari hit. Dillon got 3 games.

[@coyote4237]

Refs had a bad night in this game. Lots of bad/missed calls both ways.

[@jeremyb463]

Obviously the rule has changed since the dillon hit on acciari earlier this year.

[@Ck69420]

That’s not a major? Lol

[@KT22672]

God no it’s Vegas they play under rules from 12 years ago

[@csharp48]

Legitimately, is the future of hockey playing with your head down? It seems like everyone wants the responsibility of the hit to fall on whoevers head is higher up. They are making THE EXACT SAME PLAY just in the opposite direction. Just one of them happens to be 6 foot 6 with his head up

[@tuttifrutti8576]

@@csharp48Yeah like if the Vegas player avoids him he might literally get benched. Just because he made a little move towards the head doesn’t mean he was aiming at it. These people don’t know how hitting actually works. Your hands will always push. And for him not to make contact with the head he would’ve needed to literally dodge the opponent, which is not something you do at this level of hockey. That reach to the puck was a dumb hero play and without it Vegas would’ve had the puck. It’s not fair in any way that a smaller guy can get off balance and low on purpose knowing they’ll be hit and still have people saying it’s a major

[@avsrock1561]

​@tuttifrutti8576 any chance you can explain that to Vancouver... Moore was attacked because Naslund was reaching for the puck...

[@zzii0327]

Vegas? not surprised

[@barx]

5 minutes for any of the 31 teams in the league for sure It just so happened that this one went against number 32

[@Ck69420]

Bro you have to figure out a way to hit a guy straight through his chest. Size of the player shouldn’t be an excuse. This is coming from a rangers fan w rempe on the roster

[@csharp48]

How the fuck do you hit a guy half a foot shorter than you and skating into your path "straight through his chest"!? What's six inches higher than your chest? He's literally skating to play the puck and runs through Namestnikov to finish the play. That's what you are supposed to do.

[@fknloaded2162]

I get the foot shorter part that’s tough for big guys but he wasn’t in his path. He had to lunge over to hit him.

[@csharp48]

​​​@@fknloaded2162lunge? He's skating in a straight line and he's curving slight toward the net to rotate. They are both effectively making the same play, poke the puck, turn into the center to support, and just in opposite directions.

[@r74quinn]

@@csharp48 I agree with you - not only are they shorter but he's also bending down low trying to do a hero poke clear - knowing the bigger guy is coming - knowing the bigger guy is going to touch the puck first. The bigger guys also wants to keep his balance and adjust to "win the collision". There is no headhunting here - it's incidental and unfortunate head contact.

[@ozsalt4811]

Anyone who's ever played almost any sport at a high level know very well this could have been totally avoided. Slow reflexes are definitely not innate of one single NHL player. You can kill people with that shit.

[@arabjude8314]

Bettman; we care about player safety. Also Bettman; George Parros will be head of DOPS.

[@HammerJammer81]

Was at the game. There were alot of pissed off people in the stands lol

[@WanderFrancoREAL]

Same

[@phillipsoriano7828]

I would be too. 0/5 on the PP. terrible.

[@zzii0327]

Applause for the league trying to hand another cup to Vegas

[@strummerboy1713]

Ya they definitely don’t want Vegas to miss the playoffs.

[@csharp48]

Yeah, they wanted Vegas to win soooo bad they gave the Jets 10 minutes of power play time and Vegas 2. Watch the highlights. You can see Kolesar get tripped so hard Morrissey loses his stick and gives up on the play because he thought he was getting a penalty right before Jets scored their only goal.

[@fknloaded2162]

Because Kolesar can hardly skate so the refs figured he just fell down 😂

[@csharp48]

@@fknloaded2162 And Morrissey just decided who needs a stick anymore? Why would a defenseman drop his stick in an active poke check and the immediately start gliding away from the puck? Unless...? (You can fill in the blank, I believe you)

[@SimpleRedditStoriesTv]

Saw Hague in a game today vs wild Surprised for a sec

[@walleclyde8759]

Vegas is sucking off the refs... as per usual.

[@Weather99]

The League is probably gonna look at it

[@alohastate8256]

Did you even see the missed trip on Kolesar right before Jets scored their ONLY goal. Jets were doing more than sucking the refs.

[@goldenknight0010]

Miss trip on kolesar and dorfey gets high sticked to the face infront of the reff that was missed

[@timk.3286]

@@alohastate8256 you clown, big difference between a trip and an elbow to the head

[@vincentlawrencer]

@@alohastate8256Right? Pretty sure this dude hit ‘submit’ on his comment without knowing what he’s talking about. Especially after Nashville’s offsides the other night, too.

[@lunarmizt388]

The second he hit him he knew someone was on their way😂

[@adamohara9573]

Not even a jets fan but I see the refs are getting trained up for the playoffs. The NHL hates canadian teams.

[@mike8099m]

Not all canadien teams they love Toronto and Edmonton

[@adamohara9573]

@@mike8099m lol I have seen first hand there love for edmonton and thats not true at all.

[@WanderFrancoREAL]

The announcer had to tell the fans to stop

[@csharp48]

Cause they threw trash. Pretty standard

[@jacoblamb3535]

Clean hit and he should’ve kept feeding Schiefle (one of my favorite players) on the ground for being soft and instigating.

[@Solatso]

That's pretty obvious head contact there. Hague even chicken wings him a bit at the end of the hit. I think if he leaves his arm down MAYBE I could see a minor but with that extension at the end he was leaning into the head contact. IF they're serious about player safety, that's a major. He did make a play on the puck BUT he also clocked that guy in the head with his arm.

[@sammurison1156]

So Dillon gets suspended for a very comparable hit meanwhile Hague gets slap on the wrist bs

[@benjaminlynch9958]

I actually think the refs got this one right. This is a bang-bang play, and all the replays are in slow motion. Hague isn’t even going in to make a hit, but rather to play the puck - which he does. The head contact was both unavoidable if he’s going to play the puck, but also unintentional IMO.

[@Automotive_Intervention]

Are you blind? He literally lunged into the hit, and chicken winged his arm right into the head.

[@sacul7572]

​@@Automotive_Interventionhe barley moved lol

[@fknloaded2162]

If anyone truly thinks that was unavoidable that’s laughable. Was it a five, who knows the way things are called these days but unavoidable is troll talk

[@csharp48]

​@@fknloaded2162 If you want Hague to not play the puck, then yes, it is unavoidable. But the sport isn't politely taking turns playing the puck. If anything, Hague had more of a "right of way" to the puck than anything else. Not that is a thing.

[@DarkDays4]

NHL doing whatever they can to make sure vegas doesn't miss the playoffs

[@johnathanpatrick6118]

I tried to side with the Jets commentators, but I can't do it...that looked more elbow to shoulder every time I rewind. I think that was a good overturn TBH. 🤔🤔

[@geoffselby6260]

I’m right there with you. Either there is a lot of sarcasm in these comments or it’s all Jets fans here. I don’t even like Vegas. I want to say 5 all day but I can’t 😂

[@chrisreynolds654]

@@geoffselby6260 I agree with you all day. The Wilson High Stick that was a double minor, seemed far more deliberate than this. That being said, he got 6 games, but still.

[@Adrianplays697]

As a Vegas fan I can definitely say that the refs were biased this game

[@DickLongFlop14]

When guys lean way down and reach out to poke the puck they are putting themselves in an extremely vulnerable position. Puck battles and loose pucks include body contact. Watching the replay in slow motion makes it look intentional but the actual speed of the game makes it a guarantee that guys in vulnerable positions will sometimes get hurt

[@louisifer33]

LOL. Mark Scheifele is probably used to being the bigger of the two when fighting but Hague just softly sets him down. "Take it easy, little buddy."

[@mike8099m]

And this right here is why people think the league is rigged

[@AbsoluteNut1]

At least the commentators aren't biased.

[@deeznutz4021]

I’m sure even if we got the 5 minute pp it wouldn’t have changed the outcome given that we were 0-5 on the pp in this game before this. Also can somebody please explain an instigator penalty because I thought it was sort of like 1 guy forces the other in a fight which was not the case here. GG Vegas❤.

[@TJFishingIA]

Because the whistle was blown and the Winnipeg player went after Hague, he got a penalty for starting the fight.

[@deeznutz4021]

@@TJFishingIAok thanks 👍

[@joelzand3594]

Ref blew this call. Should have stood as a 5 minute major. Winnipeg coach furious and should be.

[@brendonmcg8763]

I don't think his intent was dirty. Lunged to play the puck and seemed to be in a make or take a hit situation. I think he expected to get popped.

[@Hiddensquid49]

😂😂😂 Vegas is the Gary Bettman Golden boy. Unreal….

[@seangordon1060]

These refs BLEW it

[@PierLuc111]

A little ironic that SCHEFELE defend his teammate for a HEADSHOT.

[@thefinaldispatch]

How?

[@wakeupcanuck6763]

@@thefinaldispatch He's butt hurt over Jake Evans

[@tyguyrocks]

@@wakeupcanuck6763Which is hilarious because Scheifele never even hit his head

[@AngusArtEntertainment]

Minor, major...it should result in a phone call from the league regardless. I hope.

[@StarkRaven59]

I dunno how that's not a major, every point of view shows Hague raising the chicken wing.

[@TheAbristol]

Hague touched the puck first and went out of his way to initiate contact. That’s on Hague, no clue how this wasn’t a major

[@frederickglass1583]

Hague was playing the puck, and it was essentially a Tricep hit of sorts on the shoulder numbers. Not Namestikov's fault he's the shorter of them both

[@DoubleDOwnage]

"2 minutes for an illegal check to the head" The league is really trying it's best to keep this shitty, skidding Vegas team alive.

[@kftc1980]

Vegas is the third least penalized team in the league. They don’t goon it up much at all. You could see by Hague’s reaction in the fight that there was no malice, he barely responded but understood the frustration. The 2 min head contact penalty exists exactly for hits like this, collisions gone wrong on legitimate hockey plays.

[@Kwolf1]

It’s crazy how much the refs and Bettman want Vegas to win. A MINOR for a hit to the head. And no power play because Scheifele defended his teammate? Insane.

[@randomshizFM]

Everyone was shouting and booing for a solid 10 minutes or so. We were chantting "ref you suck" louder than i had heard us yell all game.

[@politicalbandwagon4989]

Of course Vegas gets this call lmao

[@ericho5149]

vgk owns bettman ...

[@frederickglass1583]

Wrong. Bettman answers to the owners. Cope more

[@meifert2]

Looks like a Scott Stevens style hit

[@davebrutto]

The league has to get the knights in the playoffs somehow.

[@user-xg8ig6zx5r]

If Parros does not suspend him that is a joke! Fire The player safety board , they are making this game UNSAFE! And find new refs too!

[@edvadojunk]

I love how the announcers are saying over and over "See, he lifts his arm, he lifts his arm." Then, when the officials confer with Toronto, and see it didn't justify a major, they IMMEDIATELY say "Well, you see he doesn't lift his arm...." They're as clueless as the fans.

[@Odysseus38]

How is that not a 5 😂😂😂😂

[@irvinepoker3187]

vegas has the most MB born players in the nhl lol kinda a home game for some.

[@len7131]

Great job from Vegas paying off those refs. Wtf

[@TheGothalosism]

Sure, and what about all those calls that werent called by the refs on the jets?

[@damianryan216]

Jeez what a rip off, that could’ve gave them the necessary edge to put this game away.

[@WanderFrancoREAL]

The ref you sucks where explosive I was at the game

[@user-nw4ln6gr5v]

Namestikov needed to change his path. Completely avoidable. Absolutely ridiculous, he lowered his head and attempted to run through Hague. Leading with your helmet is dangerous and should be suspendable

[@Descan26]

how is that a minor?

[@America-First2024]

The NHL is failing, miserably.

[@mkultra5752]

Nah ratings and revenue are up...opposite of failing

[@America-First2024]

Thanks for the statistical analysis…. oh wait there wasn’t one.

[@bryanfrench835]

Nhl Refs are extra awful this year

[@rurbach68]

Can someone explain to me why does bro get a 10 min misconduct??

[@TheGothalosism]

Because there was no intent. He played the puck and his momentum took him into the other player. It was unfortunate that the other player was bending over during the contact. Thats why it was reduced from a 5min maj to a 2 min minor.

[@kftc1980]

He’s asking about the Jets player who instigated the fight.

[@TheGothalosism]

@kftc1980 ahh that makes sense as well. Also why didnt vegas get a PP after hague finished his 2 min minor?

[@kftc1980]

@@TheGothalosism both had offsetting fighting majors, and the misconduct doesn’t cause you to go shorthanded.

[@TheGothalosism]

@@kftc1980 i guess that makes sense.

[@brodi5367]

The Vegas Golden Boys

[@25yrsotj]

Lmao, the homer announcers must be weather men for the full time jobs !

[@Angelabarbosadominguez-it4fh]

nothing new its Garry's Team...

[@mrkoolio4475]

Got the announcers make it sound like somebody was murdered I mean it’s hockey and frankly a few years ago that wouldn’t have even been cold as it is it’s slightly illegal but basically the only way to make a check nowadays is keep your arms down by your side and run into the guy and hope you don’t get smashed yourself I mean it’s ridiculous

[@SRACHER]

That's because it's the TSN jets feed bro

[@kbstudios9426]

Only reason this isn't a 5 is because Nic Hague plays for the Vegas Golden Knights

[@mattfromwiisports6209]

Wtf was he supposed to do in that play maybe don’t stick ur head a foot in front of u when your skating, give him a 4 but a major is a bit extreme

[@SRACHER]

So reaching for the puck should not be a thing according to you????

[@mattfromwiisports6209]

@@SRACHER I don’t think that’s what I said actually, go ahead and reach for the puck. But if your going to do that you don’t get to also go and complain about not getting a penalty when you put yourself in a terrible situation

[@jacoblamb3535]

@@SRACHERoh bend over and reach for the puck all you want but if someone hits you in the head while you do it’s entirely on you

[@Thorpe741]

Jets aint going anywhere.

[@Sports-Jorge]

…. I don’t like Vegas, I still think a Professional hockey player has to reasonably protect himself at all times. The Jets player threw his whole head, arm and stick out for that puck with 0 thought towards a possible check from opposing player. It was like watching a boxer with his hands down and chin up leaning into the other fighters right hook. Dumb decision. Sure it’s 2 minutes for head contact, but the NHL needs to insist players stop being dumb and ignoring the fact that this is a contact sport. Keep your head up and on a swivel, expect to be hit, don’t put yourself in vulnerable position.

[@wej4life]

This Jets commentary is hilarious lol. Same with the video comments. Elbow stayed tucked low, no extension with the guy half as tall playing with his head down and basically at hip height for Hague. Of course Hague is gonna hit him, if not to protect himself in that situation. It's a 2 min roughing call all day with zero intent to injure and they obviously got it right with how quickly the video review ended. Even better with these idiots at the end trying to down play the matching fighting majors and the instigator call. This is comedy all around lol.

[@TheGothalosism]

Still cant see what vegas didnt get a pp after hague came back onto the ice.

[@csharp48]

Review was actually super long, this is edited down, but I agree.

[@tyguyrocks]

You’re saying the exact same things that someone could also say about the Dillon hit yet he got a 3 game suspension lol

[@csharp48]

@@tyguyrocks Brendon Dillon is cutting EXCLUSIVELY to hit and ONLY hits the head. Notice in this clip that Hague and Namestnikov are making the exact same hockey play: skate hard to the puck, shovel it forward, and rotate out to the center for support. Hague just has his head up. In fact, Hague is the only player to even touch the puck. Dillon deserved the suspension. These aren't even kind of comparable, except that a players head got hit. Remember, it's not a penalty to hit someone in the head. It's a penalty to target the head (as Dillon did).

[@tyguyrocks]

@@csharp48 If it’s a penalty to target the head and you’re saying it’s not a penalty to hit someone in the head, then why did he literally get a penalty for illegal contact to the head lmao

[@jamesblicq5468]

Worst call I've seen in a while lmao

[@hoozoohleague8264]

This call plus the 2high sticks missed, truly a Vegas special. Poor Jets

[@sacul7572]

Yeah but the trip that led to the jets goal was nothing right? 🤣

[@tuttifrutti8576]

Ok guys how was he supposed to avoid his head??? I absolutely despise Vegas but the dude put his head down by a lot right at the last second. Players need to learn that there’s always a price to pay for reaching out with poor balance and your head down. If you don’t wanna get hit hard maybe avoid the hit???

[@RickL_was_here]

Vegas is the most hated team in the league and for good reason...

[@kftc1980]

“Someone got hurt so someone must pay!” Ignorant fans

[@JF-rf9fx]

No one commenting even watches these games, jets had power play after power play and never scored but yeah sure "wah vegas paid off refs/bettman hates canadian teams"

[@user-nw4ln6gr5v]

These players need to wear full cages if they are going to whine about minor facial injuries like this. God this sport is soft.

[@strummerboy1713]

😂😂😂😂 what an idiot! 😂😂😂😂

[@OtterPlaysYT]

This league is a joke?

[@alohastate8256]

VGK would've won anyways. Jets PP is atrocious.

[@fknloaded2162]

And they still have more points than Vegas. That’s sad

[@deeznutz4021]

@@fknloaded2162yet Vegas still seems to own us. 😢

[@alohastate8256]

@@deeznutz4021 You are correct. See 1st round of playoffs last year.

[@alohastate8256]

@@fknloaded2162 And we still have more cups than the Jets😅🤣😂

[@fknloaded2162]

@@deeznutz4021 lots of teams own us we are too soft

[@robertmiller9003]

Player was bent over, bigger player hits smaller player clean hit

[@stinkfinger630]

The League favours the American teams, always.

[@MoIecuI3]

Refs go to review: "Hey this is a 5 minute penalty right?" Bettman: "Was it against an American team?" R "Yeah. B "Against an American or Canadian team?" R "Canadian" B "Give him 2 and a double double, don't want my golden team to lose their chance for the cup again to get all that Vegas money."

[@ericlencher2356]

Horrible officiating. Should have been 5 minutes for illegal contact to the head, then 2 each for roughing. What a joke. This is a garbage call that swung the momentum of the game.

[@barrystewart5946]

Sciefflie avenging an illegal hit. Imagine that🤣

[@brendanbauer7770]

This should be a 5 minute major, but under the current rules is doesn't have to be. Thats an issue with the league and the rules, not the refs fault

[@MuskokaMatt91]

Not a major but shief gets 2-5-10 that's ridiculous. Consistency from the nhl at its finest

[@jimbob4416]

Clean hit

[@stickhockey]

Good call by the refs, fans can hate it all day but at the end of the day thats the call.

[@independentmind7782]

You're either trolling or stupid, honestly can't tell.

[@BronzeCoin]

2-5-10 for pushing and shoving? Get out of here with that bs. That's roughing at worst.

[@stickhockey]

@@BronzeCoin honestly, you're right!

[@DiogenesTheCynic.]

Namestnikov was at fault for ducking and skating into Hauge like that. And don't forget that Jets had 5 Power Plays prior to this so you can't cry about refs.

[@childishcapone5653]

elbow through his head shiefle gets thrown and the goon stays in the game. vegas scores an offside goal right after. what a f’n joke

[@user-lt8cr7yt6e]

Хега надо было уничтожить прямо там не дожидаясь его удаления а то лыбиться как красна девица не виновата я

[@gameratheinvincible7662]

No major…and this is why the nhl remains the bottom feeding joke of the sports world