POLL: Was Bartkowski's Hit On Gionta Dirty? Krug Says No On Gresh & Zo
BOSTON (CBS) - The Bruins had a later-than-usual Sunday game, with the puck dropping shortly after 7pm.
The hometown hockey team eventually won 4-3 in overtime against the lowly Buffalo Sabres, thanks to Loui Eriksson's late-game heroics.
But the big storyline coming out of that game came late in the first period, when Bruins defenseman Matt Bartkowski laid the wood to Brian Gionta.
It was a vicious hit, one where the player in question did not return, and teammate Marcus Foligno took exception to the shot by immediately engaging Bartkowski in a fight.
Bartkowski was given a 5-minute major for interference, five for fighting and a game misconduct. However, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, the Bruins defenseman will not receive supplemental discipline.
98.5 The Sports Hub's Andy Gresh and Mike Flynn were joined by Bartkowski's good friend and teammate Torey Krug Monday afternoon, who discussed the hit among other things.
"To be honest, I haven't seen the hit in slow motion or even from a different vantage point. But from what I've heard and everything, my initial reaction was [Bartkowski] wasn't trying to do anything vicious or anything like that," Krug said of the play. "[Bart] was just trying to lay a solid body check on a player."
Krug, like Gionta, is a man of small stature, so he knows what it's like being on the receiving end of those types of plays.
"When you're smaller it's just tough; their shoulders are right at your face. [Bartkowski] did a good job of answering the bell when Foligno came over and challenged him, so good by Bart. There's been multiple times throughout my short career that I've gotten hit, and hit hard, and the refs will say, 'Hey, you're smaller. So naturally you're going to get hit up high.' There's also times that I get hit, and other guys are complaining because I'm smaller and they're getting a penalty. That situation has come up multiple times. It really depends on the referee."
So while the Sabres and their fans are rightfully upset, Krug (jokingly) puts the blame on Gionta's genetics, not Bartkowski.
"To be honest, if you're going to be a hockey player in this league and you're small, you're going to get a couple hits up high. It's unfortunate, but that's what happens. That's what you get for not growing," Krug said in jest.
Listen below for the full interview:
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