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Milan Lucic criticizes referee Brad Meier following ejection

Sean Leahy
·Contributing writer
Milan Lucic criticizes referee Brad Meier following ejection

Milan Lucic’s night ended early in the third period during the Los Angeles Kings' 3-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. He was assessed a roughing minor and game misconduct for slashing and then sucker-punching defenseman Kevin Connauton.

During a goal-mouth battle, Connauton slashed Lucic on the wrist, which set off the Kings forward:

Lucic said afterward, via Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider, that x-rays came back negative on his wrist and that his entire hand went numb at one point. He also saved his sharpest words for referee Brad Meier:

I mean, if I don’t react, I don’t think he even calls a penalty. Same guy – Brad Meier. I think this is the fourth time he’s kicked me out of a game. It’s always the same thing with him, It’s if guys can take liberties on me and it’s not a penalty. If I do something, then I’m automatically kicked out of the game. It’s just unfortunate that it is that way with him, and I’ve just got to move on and not get frustrated by the referees in the game.

If you recall, Meier was one of the referees when Lucic was ejected on opening night against the San Jose Sharks after he didn't take too kindly to a Logan Couture hit.

The punch to Connauton’s head will certainly garner attention from the Department of Player Safety, and it’ll be interesting to see if Lucic’s comments about Meier earn him a fine.

Brandon Prust was out $5,000 for remarks about referee Brad Watson during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Will Lucic suffer the same fate?

UPDATE: Never a good sign when the league uses the word "sucker punch":

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