Classy move by Mikhail Sergachev following brutal sucker-punch to Conor Garland

No one expected this just as much as Vancouver Canucks’ Conor Garland didn’t expect to get punched in the face last night. During Thursday night’s matchup against the Lightning in Tampa Bay, Garland was close to rival goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, pushing and shoving when he was suddenly on the other end of a punch by defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. The blue liner reached over the net to hit Garland, who immediately went to his knees after the punch.

On Friday, the NHL announced that it had fined Sergachev $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for roughing Garland.

But it was also revealed, by Iain MacIntyre that Sergachev waited for Garland after game to explain the punch and make sure he was OK.

“It hurt at the time, but I was fine. I’ve played like a rat since I was 16, so I’m used to it,” Garland added after speaking about Sergachev’s classy move.

Garland, who was not injured on the roughing play, scored a goal and recorded three shots on goal that game.
Sergachev recorded an assist and two shots in the Lightning’s 5-4 victory over the Canucks.

And the small fine is nothing to him. Though he is in the final season of his contract, Sergachev has already signed an eight-year deal with his team prior to the season, worth $68 million in total.

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