Hagel unhappy with Subban trip: 'It's a dirty play' originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
P.K. Subban is a good hockey player who’s put together a solid NHL career but he hasn’t been helping his on-ice reputation as of late. He's been fined multiple times this season just for slew-footing, and he found himself at the center of another controversial play on Friday night in Chicago.
With the New Jersey Devils trailing 7-5 in the final seconds of regulation, Brandon Hagel jumped on a loose puck in the neutral zone, blew past Subban then darted for the empty net to complete his first career NHL hat trick. But not before getting blatantly tripped by Subban, who two-hand chopped at Hagel's skates, clearly out of frustration.
It was dangerous and uncalled for, and Hagel wasn't happy about it after the game.
"There's a reason the guy slew-foots everyone and gets these dirty fines," Hagel said following the 8-5 victory. "Dirty play, I don’t care who you are. I have a clear-cut breakaway, like what are you going to do? It’s just a dirty play. It is what it is. I mean, he can do what he wants, but it’s not going to get you very liked around the league, that’s for sure."
Kirby Dach immediately came to the defense of his teammate by giving Subban a little shove after the goal. He clearly didn't appreciate that, and it eventually led to a mini brawl between the two sides.
Hagel and Subban tried to square off but the officials wouldn't let them go, and rightfully so. There was no need for things to get out of hand at that point in the game.
Hagel, of course, got the last laugh by having a memorable individual night and helping his team pick up a much-needed win to end a seven-game home winless skid. He even tried hyping up the United Center crowd after the scrum, just to put a bow on things.
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"Nice to see him get a hat trick," said Patrick Kane, who had a hat trick of his own. "That’s pretty special. Even after the goal, showing his feistiness and getting the crowd pumped up. It’s good stuff."
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