This is not how we’re used to seeing Max Pacioretty. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward stunned fans on Tuesday, delivering one of the most massive hits we’ve seen this season on Devils star Jack Hughes.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils squared off in a tight and intense game on Tuesday. Although the Devils were the better team throughout the game—Toronto was held to just one shot on goal in the first period—the Maple Leafs came away with the win.
Pontus Holmberg tied the game at 1-1 with a short-handed goal ten minutes into the third period, and in overtime, Auston Matthews scored the game-winner for the Maple Leafs. To make matters worse for the Devils, there were also injury concerns for superstar forward Jack Hughes.
Pacioretty’s massive hit on Jack Hughes
Late in the second period, Hughes picked up a loose puck in the Devils’ zone and was caught being too stationary. Max Pacioretty—not really known as the heaviest hitter in the league—saw Hughes not moving quickly enough and decided to absolutely blast him with a steamrolling hit.
It appeared to be a clean hit, but it looked worse than it was because Hughes wasn’t skating and due to the height difference between the two players.
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Hughes also appeared to be falling backward before Pacioretty made contact, which exaggerated the impact of the hit.
Although no penalty was called on the play and the puck was still in play, officials stopped the game, leading to some confusion. The general consensus on social media seemed to agree that the officials were right to deem it a clean hit by Pacioretty, but most Devils fans—unsurprisingly—thought it was a dirty play that deserved a penalty.
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