Every time I see this clip, I can’t help but laugh. I love the Leafs, and while Tucker has finally started to play hockey (now that the whine twins of Quinn and Domi are gone), he’s still not my favorite player in the league.
Kovalev, of the Canadiens, takes a high stick from Tucker at the start of this sequence. No penalty is called, so Kovalev decides he’ll take care of the even-up himself. I’d say they were even at the end, and the way Kovalev took care of it is pretty impressive considering what he needed to do to get back to Tucker with control of the puck.
My favourite part of this clip is Harry Neale, the colour commentator for the CBC, laughing openly following the hit. He knew what it was all about.