Vegas’s Zach Whitecloud Hit on Toronto’s Matthew Knies Was Textbook

The hockey world is up in arms about the controversial hit made by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies .

However, this is not as controversial as you think.

This hit from Zach Whitecloud on Matthew Knies was deemed no penalty after a review.

Thoughts on the call? pic.twitter.com/Q2BN1Vq68r TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 21, 2024 The Hit By Zach Whitecloud is Not That Controversial Depending on whos side you are on, we will get to the hockey worlds take on social media in a minute.

This is a textbook clean body check.

Everyone says that Kniess head is the main point of contact.

It is not.

The main point of contact is Kniess right shoulder and right arm.

Zach Whitecloud follows through the body.

In addition, Whitecloud does not leave his feet to make the hit.

Unfortunately, Knies left the game.

Is this a double standard based on what happened Saturday night with Ryan Reaves of the Maple Leafs and Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers? Nope, it is not.

Reavess main point of contact is the Nurses head.

While Reaves tried to make contact with the body, he missed.

Ryan Reaves paid the price and was handed a five-game suspension from the Department of Player Safety.

The officials on the ice reviewed the hit, and the situation room determined it was a clean body hit.

Thus, the result is no supplementary discipline.

And by the letter of the law and the rulebook, this is a good hit.

This is a reminder that hockey is a physical sport, and the results can be bad if you do not protect yourself.

Boston Bruins: Boston Bruins Make Coaching Change, But is it the Right Decision? Montreal Canadiens: Montreal Canadiens a Favourite to Land Jim Montgomery? New Jersey Devils: Sheldon Keefe The Right Coach For This New Jersey Devils Group It is a reminder that it is easy to rely on clips on Social Media to make a point.

Tim Peel and Dave Jackson told Full Press Hockey that the situation room was there to assist the officials.

In addition, the freeze frame and slow motion are good pieces of the pie, but not the whole pie.

And everyone on social media uses the free frame to make a point.

While most know the rulebook, fans and even those who work in the game need to educate themselves on the rules even more by reading the rulebook and watching what is on NHL.com to understand better what is being called.

Social Media Takes Sides Again, depending on which side you are on, it was either a clean hit, or it shouldnt have been a penalty and suspension.

Heres the slowed down version on the best angle possible for the Zach Whitecloud hit on Matthew Knies Pretty clear that he does contact the head and to take a penalty completely off the board is an egregious error #LeafsForever #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/fh9REeeIzM Matt Marchese (@Mattymar89) November 21, 2024 Man have you forgotten how the game is played.

This is never a penalty.

You really need to take the Leaf Sunglasses off! Tim Peel (@TimCPeel20) November 21, 2024 The Wednesday Night Hockey panel weighs in on Zach Whitecloud not being assessed a major penalty for his hit on Matthew Knies.

pic.twitter.com/pZyo7Y9d4Y Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 21, 2024 Steve knows! The Main Point of contact was thru center of body incl head.

The head was a small pct of overall contact.

He didnt pick his head.

Feet on ice until contact and elbow tucked.

Legal hit, the words initial & principal contact are not in the rulebook.

https://t.co/urQtRSvfJo Dave Jackson (@ESPNRefNHL) November 21, 2024 From a Leafs fan.

The Whitecloud hit on Knies was a nothing burger.

Stop comparing it to the Reavo hit.

Not the same.

Hope Knies gets back soon hes been one of there most consistent players all year.

Loving his growth.

#LeafsForever Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) November 21, 2024 He left his feet no dummies his right skates inside edge is blowing snow.

Cant do that with your foot off the ice.

He makes head contact Where else is his shoulder supposed to go while hitting him square in the chest, with his elbow tucked.

Just say youve never played...

pic.twitter.com/DCkVnTatc1 Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) November 21, 2024 What did you think of Zach Whiteclouds hit on Matthew Knies? Bruce Boudreau joins @JayOnrait to discuss.

pic.twitter.com/VBZB2W0mbv JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) November 21, 2024 It feels like such a double standard when this does not look materially different than Darnell Nurse and Ryan Reaves.

@JDBunkis & @SamAMcKee break down Zach Whiteclouds unpenalized hit on Matthew Knies.

#LeafsForever ? https://t.co/nsHls2kn7i ? https://t.co/V4ebTWf96U pic.twitter.com/CJp7nzZkon Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) November 21, 2024 Let us know in the comments what you think about the hit by Zach Whitecloud on Matthew Knies .

This article first appeared on Full Press Hockey and was syndicated with permission..

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