Devils’ top defenseman may miss Game 5 as Lightning get off for hit

Nikita Kucherov is skating away scot-free as Sami Vatanen pays the punishment.

The Lightning’s 100-point scorer will not have a hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety after his hit on Vatanen knocked the Devils’ top defenseman out for the night Wednesday in Game 4 of the first-round series.

Devils coach John Hynes said Thursday morning Vatanen was day-to-day with an upper-body injury and his status for Saturday’s Game 5 was yet to be determined. Vatanen did not travel with the team to Tampa.

Kucherov will not face a fine or suspension for the hit because Vatanen’s head was not the main point of contact, according to multiple reports. The blow came late in the first period as the Devils carried the puck along the boards before Kucherov delivered a right shoulder to Vatanen’s chest and then head.

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Hynes had declined to discuss his feelings on the hit Wednesday night, saying it would do him no good to get into it. He stuck to that sentiment Thursday, instead talking about the ramifications of whether or not Vatanen can play.

“The situations he plays in — if he winds up not playing — guys have to be able to, you have to change some things around,” Hynes said before the Devils flew to Florida. “But it’s no different than in the regular season. Sami’s an important part of our team, he’s a really good player for us. But if unfortunately he isn’t able to go, it’s next man up. We’ve said it all year long, it’s not about the guys out of your lineup, it’s about the performance of the guys in your lineup.”

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Wednesday night he was not concerned about a potential suspension and can now rest assured he will have his top-line winger for Saturday’s potential knockout game.

“I actually thought that was a heck of a hockey hit,” Cooper said after the game. “The only thing that’s down about that is that Vatanen got hurt.”