Jacob Trouba Killed A Guy On Live TV
Justin Barron is a 22-year-old kid. He has 100 NHL games under his belt, but he's still learning. And last night he learned one of the most important lessons he'll ever receive if he wants to have a long NHL career...
If you're carrying the puck down Jacob Trouba's side of the ice, you might just want to dump n' chase. Unless, of course, you want to get caught on the tracks of the Trouba Train.
First off, bad tweet! I love to find reasons to shit on Trouba just as much as the next guy, but this hit was as clean as you could ask a manslaughter to be. Trouba's job is to separate the man from the puck. Barron has the puck on his stick, loses it in his feet a little bit after the initial poke from Trouba, and that's when the worst decision in the history of hockey was made--he puts his head down as Trouba already has target lock engaged. Trouba lowers the shoulder, keeps his elbow tucked in, and drives straight through Barron's soul. It's not his fault that Barron dropped his head at the last possible moment. That was a shoulder through the chest that Justin Barron invited his face to join.
With that being said, Matheson HAS to fight Trouba after the hit. I think the NHL is in a weird spot right now where guys seemingly have to fight after every big, clean hit. But you see one of your teammates get murdered by a runaway Trouba Train, you need to make sure the maniac is off the ice for at least the next 5 minutes. Great hit, good fight, good night. That's hockey, baby.