Cal Clutterbuck has become somewhat of a fan favorite in Minnesota, reenergizing a team that seemed to have lost it’s way after the departure of Marian Gaborik. For a second year player, Clutterbuck is everything you want from a hockey player, becoming what seems to be a growing line of system committed players in Jacques Lemaire’s trapping system.
The Minnesota Wild bested the Pittsburgh Penguins last night at the Xcel Energy Center by a score of 4-3, but clearly the real story here is the questionable overzealous headshot Sergei Gonchar put on Clutterbuck late in the game.
It all started with a nice play by Clutterbuck on Gonchar, who was doing a fantastic job of backchecking the entire night. Gonchar’s frustration evidently peaked after this hit, as shortly after Gonchar completely steamrolled Clutterbuck in the most illegal way known to mankind. Sergei came screaming down ice, leaving the ice and hitting Cal with a vicious elbow. Clutterbuck spiraled to the ground, and Gonchar left with a five minute interference penalty. I’ve got a strong feeling that Sergei will be hearing from the league office soon concerning fines and a possible suspension.
You have to wonder whether or not the frustration of Sergei Gonchar was resonating through the entire Pittsburgh Penguins locker room. Yes, the Penguins will almost certainly make the playoffs, but one has to wonder what the locker room is like after some of these games. They’re clearly the worst team in the NHL on the power play, Evgeni Malkin looks to be a shadow of the player he was last season, and at times Marc Andre Fleury has looked vulnerable.
Said Clutterbuck of the hit: “”He better hope he retires at the end of the year, I’ll tell you that … Somebody’s going to hurt him before the end of the year. Someone will. It’s not going to be me, but someone will.”
What are your thoughts? Was it a dirty hit, should Gonchar be suspended, and if you were the coach of the Wild with a goal lead, how would you want your team to react?
Travis Yost is a native New Yorker and recent Arizona State University product . He is the team beat writer for the Ottawa Senators over at Hockey Buzz, and covers all sports here at The Prose. 
Wow what a dirty hit. Never had anything against Gonchar til now. If I were the coach I might have to put Boogard to use, though I’m guessing the wild won’t play the penguins again anytime soon.
I’ve been Gonchar since his playing days back in Washington and I’ve never known him to be a headhunter. From the play it looked like he was going to hit him in the shoulder but Clutterbuck turned around at the last minute and Gonchar hit him in the face. Granted it was a dirty hit, but I highly doubt Gonchar was going for his head. Either way he deserved the 5 minute penalty, but I wouldn’t think he gets suspended or should be fined.
That is friggin nuts. I didnt know gonch had it in him.