Who would’ve thought that New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey would’ve been able to hit a guy like that?
Hickey, 27, is a 6’0″, 189 pound blueliner who’s constantly being picked on by the Isles’ fanbase for a perceived “lack of size.”
Well, roughly five minutes into the second period, Slater Koekkoek came chasing after Hickey. Why? Because Hickey had massacred Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin in what may be a candidate for hit of the year.
It was a clean, textbook hit, too.
Tensions flared throughout the remainder of the second frame, although Victor Hedman ended up giving the Bolts a 2-1 lead halfway through the period, before Nick Leddy scored the equalizer for the Isles just minutes later.
The Isles and Lightning are tied 1-1 in their second round playoff series on the verge of entering a crucial third period.