Jacob Trouba is no stranger to borderline hits in big-time playoff games.
On Monday’s Game 7 between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, Trouba rocked Timo Meier with a hit up high in the opening minutes of the third period. With the Rangers down 2-0 in the opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with their season on the line, Trouba looked to light a spark in New York with the heavy hit.
Unfortunately, Trouba’s hit was quite the violent one, as Meier was down on the ice in pain after taking a shoulder to the face. Meier did end up returning to the Devils’ bench later in the third, but Trouba absolutely lit him up with a brutal hit.
Jacob Trouba with a hit on Timo Meier in the middle of the ice pic.twitter.com/Tt9b17N2aV
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 2, 2023
Another look at Jacob Trouba's huge hit on Timo Meier #NYR | #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/feRXfNrvd8
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) May 2, 2023
Yeah, that’s as hard of a hit as you’ll see in the NHL. Trouba wasn’t penalized for the play, as that kind of hit is technically legal according to the NHL rule book. Because Meier was leaning over in a vulnerable position on the play, Trouba’s hit was deemed legal by the referees on the ice.
Rangers' Trouba hit on Devils' Meier ruled legal. Head contact may be permitted if unavoidable or if player's body position contributed to the contact – which, with Meier bent over, leaning forward, did on this play. #NYRvsNJD pic.twitter.com/uuXrnlNYzy
— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) May 2, 2023
NHL fans, however, were stunned that that type of hit still remains a legal one given how violent and devastating it is. While Trouba may not have been penalized for the hit due to its legality, hockey fans were quite upset all the same.