Lucic runs Broberg from behind late in Battle of Alberta

In case you missed it last night, the Calgary Flames managed a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in the latest installment of The Battle of Alberta. 

And just like you might imagine in a game between these two bitter rivals, things got a bit chippy. Late in the third frame with the Flames holding on to a comfortable two goal lead, Flames forward Milan Lucic laid an absolutely stupid hit on Oilers rookie Philip Broberg.

Check it out:

Broberg was shaken up on the play, but did not leave the game. Seems he'll be just fine.

Regardless, this is a reckless play from both individuals. Lucic cannot lay that hit. Period. Broberg is not even close to the end boards at the time of contact... he's not even close to the goal line and yet Lucic blows through him like it's a routine check. That's boarding at the very least. Add in the fact that Broberg's numbers are exposed to Lucic the entire hit and it's just an ugly, reckless hit that has no place in hockey.

Now, in Lucic's defense there's no good reason for Broberg to stop up like that. When a forechecker is chasing you from behind and you have to retrieve a puck deep in your zone you have to put yourself in a position to absorb the hit and make a play on the puck. That's just good defense and that's playing smartly. Broberg is a rookie and he'll learn this soon enough, I'm just happy that he wasn't seriously injured on the play.

Now, I think it's fair to say that Lucic will likely be looking at some supplemental discipline courtesy of NHL Player Safety. I'm not certain if he'll be facing a suspension, but I think at the very least he'll be looking at a fine. By my count Lucic has received three suspensions over the course of his career. Two of them for just a single game and his third one for two games. It'll be interesting to see if his past history weighs into NHL Player Safety's decision this time around.