Minnesota Wild defenseman Marco Scandella has been fined by the NHL for his hit on St. Louis’ T.J. Oshie on Saturday night in St. Paul.
The NHL fined Scandella $2,755.38, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which amounts to about half a day’s pay for Scandella. He just signed a five-year $20 million extension with the Wild earlier in the day on Saturday.
Scandella was assessed a minor penalty for the illegal check to the head, and Oshie returned to the game in the second period, but the incident may have stirred up some bad feelings between Oshie and the Wild.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8AaUvAzI3Q
The Star Tribune’s Michael Russo reports that Oshie, who played his high school hockey in Warroad, thinks the Wild might be targeting him.
“It seems like that’s the second time that’s happened in a matter of, what, three shifts that I’ve been in Minnesota?” Oshie said. “So I don’t know, it seems a little targeted but … either way, got away with the two points, so we’ll take that.”
The other hit Oshie referenced was at the end of last season and was delivered by former Wild player Mike Rupp.
Rupp was suspended four games – including three playoff games – for the hit to Oshie last April. He was then scratched from the Wild’s roster for the rest of the playoffs.
Following Saturday’s game the league was watching Oshie’s health to determine if the hit warranted league punishment, then made the announcement on Monday.
