Senators' Hodgson Ejected for Boarding Kings' Clarke in Heated Clash

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ottawa Senators forward Hayden Hodgson was assessed a game misconduct and a major penalty for boarding Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke during Thursday night's game.

Hodgson charged at Clarke at a speed of 21 mph, as reported on the game broadcast. The impact occurred just below the goal line, driving Clarke into the boards.

The hit triggered a brief scrum, and the Kings' Erik Haula was handed a two-minute roughing penalty for his actions against Hodgson.

The play took place with 8:45 remaining in the second period, shortly after Los Angeles had scored three goals in 4:03 to grab a 4-1 lead and chase goaltender Jonas Johansson.

Hodgson has appeared in only 24 NHL games across five seasons but has already accumulated 51 penalty minutes, including Thursday's infractions.

Ottawa took six penalties in the first two periods, and the Kings capitalized with power-play goals from Haula and Artemi Panarin to carry a 5-1 advantage into the third period.

Key Analysis

The boarding incident highlights the physical nature of the game and the potential dangers players face. Hodgson's high-speed hit on Clarke not only resulted in his ejection but also shifted momentum further in favor of the Kings, who had just seized control with a scoring surge. The subsequent power-play goals underscored Ottawa's disciplinary issues, as they struggled to stay out of the penalty box. With the game already slipping away, the Senators' lack of discipline compounded their troubles, allowing Los Angeles to build a commanding lead.

Originally reported by yourvalley_net.