Nightly Hockey Hits: Keith Ballard slashes Tomas Vokoun in the head.

Nightly Hockey Hits this evening is a condensed version focussing on one even that took place during tonight’s hockey games.  For the latest NHL news, why not follow Illegalcurve on Twitter.

In case you missed it, during the 1st period between the Thrashers and Panthers, Keith Ballard was less than pleased after Ilya Kovalchuk put in his own rebound after he was stopped on the break-a-way.  He decided to take his frustration out on the goal post but instead found the melon of his goalie, Tomas Vokoun.

TSN is reporting:

“Vokoun is going to be fine,” Florida coach Peter DeBoer said after the game.

“There was no internal ear damage, just a laceration,” said Panthers general manager Randy Sexton. “They stitched him up, took a catscan and there’s no additional injuries.”

Vokoun was scheduled to fly home with them, he added.

It will be determined Tuesday whether Vokoun will be available for Florida’s next game at home against Colorado on Wednesday, Sexton said.

Ballard was unavailable for comment.

This might have to go in the “what was he thinking category”?  I understand being frustrated but his actions were reckless and led to his goalie having to be taken off on a stretcher.  Since a slashing penalty calls for it to be against an opposing player,  I guess he’s clear on that one, although some thought the Refs could have assessed an unsportmanlike conduct penalty.

NHL Rules:

75.1 Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Players, goalkeepers and non-playing Club personnel are responsible for their conduct at all times and must endeavor to prevent disorderly conduct before, during or after the game, on or off the ice and any place in the rink. The Referees may assess penalties to any of the above team personnel for failure to do so.

Luckily for Ballard he won’t face any additional justice from the NHL as The Hockey News Ken Campbell is reporting that:

NHL vice-president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell  said that Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Ballard will not be suspended for hitting his own goalie, Tomas Vokoun, with a two-handed baseball swing in the Panthers 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers.

“It will be on every sports highlight show for the next week,” Campbell said. “If that’s not enough of a punishment…”

I’d have to agree that just seeing that footage over and over again is certainly going to be with Keith Ballard for quite some time.

And to add insult to the injury, the Panthers lost 4-3.