Home / Sports / Zadorov's Costly Punch: $5K Fine and Ejection
Zadorov's Costly Punch: $5K Fine and Ejection
2 Nov
Summary
- Zadorov fined $5,000 by NHL for punching Alex Vlasic.
- Incident occurred during a scrum near center ice.
- Zadorov leads NHL with 47 penalty minutes in 14 games.
Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000 by the NHL on November 1 for an altercation with Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic. The punch occurred during a second-period scrum on October 31, resulting in Zadorov receiving a 10-minute misconduct and ejection from the game.
This maximum fine for roughing underscores Zadorov's disciplinary record. He leads the league with 47 penalty minutes in just 14 games this season. His history includes leading the NHL in penalty minutes for the previous two seasons. Despite his physical style, which he describes as characteristic of the Bruins' brand of hockey, Zadorov's conduct has drawn attention from head coach Marco Sturm.
Earlier in October, Zadorov was a healthy scratch for disciplinary reasons. Coach Sturm noted Zadorov's quality but stressed the need for improved on-ice discipline. Zadorov, however, stated his commitment to his physical style and his teammates, acknowledging that emotions can sometimes lead to costly penalties. The Bruins ultimately defeated the Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime on October 31.
