{"id":608294,"date":"2026-04-26T23:47:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T23:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/608294\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T23:47:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T23:47:14","slug":"bruins-nikita-zadorov-cross-checks-sabres-rasmus-dahlin-in-garbage-time-of-game-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/608294\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruins\u2019 Nikita Zadorov cross-checks Sabres\u2019 Rasmus Dahlin in garbage time of Game 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

BOSTON \u2014 Game 4<\/a> was over. The Buffalo Sabres were leading the Boston Bruins 6-0.<\/p>\n

But following a whistle at 16:43 remaining in regulation, Nikita Zadorov approached Rasmus Dahlin at center ice. Zadorov cross-checked Dahlin, breaking his stick, then swiped at the Sabres captain.<\/p>\n

Zadorov was given a five-minute cross-checking major and a game misconduct.<\/p>\n

Nikita Zadorov is given a 5-minute major for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin between play. #NHLBruins<\/a> #LetsGoBuffalo<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Mfw73wCY4o<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Bruins coach Marco Sturm answered when asked if he was worried Zadorov put himself in line for supplemental discipline. \u201cI can\u2019t answer that. I don\u2019t know. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zadorov had a league-leading 152 penalty minutes during the regular season. He was called for six majors and four 10-minute misconducts. He had not drawn a game misconduct.<\/p>\n

Zadorov played 19:20 on the third pair in Game 4. He was credited with four hits, including a second-period wallop of Jack Quinn.<\/p>\n

Sabres players mostly steered clear of talking about the hit after the game. Goalie Alex Lyon said he didn\u2019t see it. Zach Benson, who got a penalty for cross-checking Zadorov in retaliation, also claimed the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just heard a stick break,\u201d Benson said. \u201cI didn\u2019t really see it. I haven\u2019t seen it yet. I\u2019m not too sure, but obviously it\u2019s after the whistle, and there\u2019s no need for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said on Friday that both teams were warned before Game 3 about the after-the-whistle antics after a heated Game 2. That\u2019s why Peyton Krebs was called for a roughing penalty early in Game 3. Ruff understood that the call was an attempt to calm things down after the whistle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the message is consistent from them is that they\u2019re going to hold the game to a higher standard,\u201d Ruff said after Game 3.<\/p>\n

Zadorov crossed that line, and now the question is whether the league will hand out any further discipline for the play.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand the emotion of that because of the way the game went,\u201d Ruff said. \u201cYou see that in playoff games. That type of raw emotion it\u2019s because a player is so frustrated with the game. There\u2019s lots of bantering back and forth inside the game. It\u2019s not a play you want. I\u2019m pretty sure if that\u2019s the regular season that might even be a suspension. Could have easily broken Rasmus\u2019 arm with the cross-check.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outside of that play and the response from the Sabres, this was a pretty tame game in terms of penalties. They had three power plays, and the Bruins had just one.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just playing our game,\u201d Benson said. \u201cWe want to play our game and stick to that. That\u2019s all the message was.\u201d<\/p>\n

The calmer the game is from a physicality standpoint, the more it favors Buffalo. The Sabres skated to a dominant 6-1 win, and it was enough to cause Zadorov\u2019s frustration to boil over. The Sabres kept a level head during the game and maintained that afterward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to stick up for our captain and have his back at all times,\u201d Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a comment on that.\u201d<\/p>\n