Wallstedt takes issue with Hofer's hit on Wild's star player

The St. Louis Blues dropped last night's game against the Minnesota Wild 5-4, though they did make it interesting late in the third to bring it within one. That effort was on the back of Robert Thomas getting his first goal of the season (short handed, no less!), and it's the sort of thing a new captain needs to do: lead by example, and show a game's not over until the final whistle.

One player who may've let his frustrations get the better of him? Joel Hofer.

The penalty on Kaprizov

Kirill Kaprizov is, without a doubt, the Minnesota Wild's best forward--he may even be their best player, period, depending on your feelings towards defenseman Quinn Hughes. Through eight games this season, Kaprizov has nine goals and 14 points; he is smoking the competition. Down 5-2 at the time, Blues goaltender Joel Hofer seemed to say "enough," and went after Kaprizov when he skated behind Hofer's net.

That's about as blatant of an interference penalty as one can take. Kaprizov has his head down because, well, goaltenders don't come out of the crease to lay hits on players all that often. For Hofer, it's his second penalty of the year (he took a tripping penalty against the San Jose Sharks).

The reaction from the Wild

After the game, Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt was asked for his thoughts about Hofer's hit on Kaprizov, including whether he was considering dropping the gloves.

"I don't know. In the heat of the moment, maybe. I think it's a dirty play. There's no reason for him to go out there and not play the puck and just play the player. He knows, everyone knows, that's one of our best players."

Wallstedt went on to call it an "ugly play" which, to be fair, we can sort of understand. The game was getting out of hand for the Blues, who were down three goals, and Hofer was getting lit up with no support from his skaters. Interfering with the opponent's best player is one way to send a message, and referees will probably make that call to keep the temperature in check. Jordan Binnington's known as a somewhat hot headed goalie, so maybe Hofer's picked up a thing or two from the veteran.

The good news for the Blues, then, is that it seems to have sparked some energy: Thomas scored his shorty on the ensuing power play. They ultimately lost the game, but at least they didn't go down without a fight in the third period.

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