This is pretty gross.
During the Colorado Avalanche's 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena, Tyler Bertuzzi decided to do something utterly stupid.
In a scrum at the Red Wings bench, Matt Calvert – a long-time Blue Jackets forward now with the Avalanche – got into it with a few of the Detroit players. During the brief melee, Bertuzzi (who is on the bench and not part of the play) decides to wind up and deliver an undercut sucker-punch to Calvert's head.
The video, which you can see above, is scary. Calvert is engaged with the players on the ice and is already outnumbered, and Bertuzzi decides he needs to join in and clock a player who isn't looking or paying attention to him.
As we'd expect, the NHL's Department of Player Safety has viewed the play and wants to speak to Bertuzzi. Their wording, however, is curiously weak:
Detroits Tyler Bertuzzi will have a hearing today for roughing/unsportsmanlike conduct on Colorados Matt Calvert.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 3, 2018
"Roughing," you say? Good grief.
Needless to say, Bertuzzi is going to be missing some time for this cheap shot.
