If Carey Price had the save of the preseason the other day against the Detroit Red Wings, then Ole-Kristian Tollefsen of the Columbus Blue Jackets has given us the open ice check of the exhibition campaign (at least from the televised games clipped for YouTube).
From last night's 5-4 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, here's Jason Blake getting Tollefsen'd:
That was a Scott Stevens-quality smack; and in true Stevens form, Tollefsen emphatically states the case for the legality of his check by pounding on Alexei Ponikarovsky for a while.
Whether or not this hit stands up as one of the most vicious of the season remains to be seen; but we'd bet dollars to doughnuts that the Ole-Kristian Tollefsen/ Alexei Ponikarovsky fight that followed will be difficult to beat in the "Most Vowels Involved in a Hockey Brawl" category. What with the Devils sending Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond down and all.
About the Blue Jackets: Nikita Filatov was exactly who we think he is last night. The 2008 Draft pick put on some fancy offensive moves, scored a regulation goal and the shootout game-winner. But he also blew a defensive read and was caught on a long shift that resulted in a Toronto goal. The Jackets could use the offense, but it appears he'll be AHL bound.
