NHL: Kyle MacLean reacts to Jusso Valimaki's late slap shot
The Islanders captain called the move unnecessary after the defenseman hit the forward in the final second of a 5-3 loss to Carolina.
By Tomas Gonzalez ·
Kyle MacLean told amNewYork that he found Jusso Valimaki's final-second slap shot to be completely messed up. The shot landed on the New York forward as the horn sounded, ending the game with one second remaining. MacLean described the moment as the Islanders facing the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.
The physical contact sparked a scrum on the ice. MacLean rushed toward Valimaki, a defenseman in his first season with the Hurricanes, to engage the player who delivered the blow. The confrontation followed a 5-3 defeat for the home team. The score had seen a back-and-forth battle before the final period closed.
Bo Horvat, the Islanders captain, defended MacLean's reaction in an interview with amNewYork. Horvat called the shot unnecessary and noted that it was not a smart play. He stated that the defensemen decided to take a slap shot at the goalie and the player with one second left on the clock. Horvat said he was happy MacLean went to have a go with Valimaki.
Mitchell Chaffee, who plays on the same line as MacLean, said the team would not let the play fly. Chaffee explained that the scrum happened because the players support one another. He noted that if someone takes a shot like that, the team responds. Chaffee recorded his first goal as an Islander in the first period and finished the night with two points.
The Hurricanes established a 2-0 lead before the Islanders tied the game at three goals. William Carrier scored with 5:08 remaining in regulation to break the tie. Jalen Chatfield added an empty-netter with 51 seconds left to seal the win for Carolina. The Islanders had pulled even twice during the contest.
Head coach Pete DeBoer praised the team's effort despite the loss. DeBoer described the Hurricanes as relentless and said they tilted the ice. He noted that the visitors got on top of the pucks and were hard to play against. DeBoer called the performance a good sign for the team going forward.
