Andrew Desjardins gets match penalty on legal hit

San Jose Sharks forward Andrew Desjardins was given a match penalty for what looked to be a legal hit.

By Adam Gretz

Feb 6, 2013 at 12:12 am ET • 1 min read

The most anticipated game on Tuesday night featured the two best teams in the NHL so far as the Chicago Blackhawks visited the San Jose Sharks, two teams that entered the game with just one regulation loss between them.

It did not disappoint.

The two teams played a wild first period that saw them combine for six goals -- including an 89-second stretch where they scored four times -- and both coaches being forced to use their timeout.

But the real fireworks started in the second period when Sharks forward Andrew Desjardins was given a match penalty for a hit to the head on Blackhawks forward Jamal Mayers. The only problem is that Desjardins didn't appear to make any contact with the head.

Desjardins was then jumped by Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith who was given an instigator penalty, as well as another minor for instigating a fight with a visor on.

It looked worse in real-time, but when watching the replays it appeared to be a legal hit. Between this, the David Backes-Kent Huskins call, and the countless botched goaltender interference penalties it hasn't been a great couple of weeks for the NHL's referees.

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