Why Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov Apologized To Oilers Goalie After Collision

Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov broke hard to the net, looking to score and instead crashed into Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner.

With Boston trailing 1-0 in the first period, Zadorov lumbered his 6-foot-6, 248-pound body toward the net with Brett Kulak right behind him. As Zadorov made a move toward the front of the crease, Kulak hit the massive defenseman, sending him straight into Skinner.

His effort landed Zadorov in the penalty box for two minutes for goaltender interference. During the game, Zadorov visibly challenged the call on the ice. After the Bruins’ 4-0 loss, he explained what referee Chris Rooney told him about the call.

“I spoke to Chris. He thought it wasn’t enough push for me to skate into (Skinner),” Zadorov told reporters, per team-provided audio. “I’m a big guy, and I had enough speed that a push from behind, I couldn’t really get out of the way. I was trying to get my hands around him and try to put it far side to score a goal. Unfortunately, it happened like this. It was obviously an accident.”

Zadorov took the opportunity to talk with Skinner at the beginning of the second period.

“I skated to him. I wouldn’t want to hurt anybody on the ice. I wouldn’t anybody to do that to my goalie, either,” Zadorov said. “I felt like it was fair to say there was no intention to hurt anybody out there.”

The NHL spotters removed Skinner from the game for concussion protocol. He returned for the final two periods to earn his second shutout of the season with a 26-save performance.

“They called down, and honestly, it’s a smart call. He got me pretty good,” Skinner told reporters, per team-provided video. “… He apologized at the start of the second period, which was really nice of him to do. It’s an NHL play. It happens.”

Skinner joked about Zadorov’s size when he was asked about the lack of physical response from his teammates after the collision.

“I can only speak for myself. I wasn’t too worried about it,” Skinner said. “He’s also eight feet tall, so I wasn’t expecting anybody to go fists with him.”