If the feelings Minnesota Wild fans had for Ryan Suter before Game 1 hadn't already changed, they probably have now after Suter was shown twice on television cameras delivering illegal cross-checks to Kirill Kaprizov's back.
The most blatant of the two happened late in the third period when Kaprizov skated in front of the Dallas goal. Suter positioned himself behind him and delivered a mean cross-check to Kaprizov's right mid-back, causing the Wild superstar to crumble to the ice before skating to the bench where he sat in obvious pain.
That wasn't the first vicious cross-check by Suter on Kaprizov. Earlier, Suter and Kaprizov were behind the play when Suter took a cheap shot at the same spot on Kaprizov's middle-right back.
Neither illegal cross-check was called for a penalty.
"Was told once by a former NHL General Manager that Ryan Suter is one of the dirtiest players in the league … but he’s not known as that because he does his business behind the play," tweeted former Wild team reporter Dan Myers.
Suter played nine seasons with the Wild, including his last in 2020-21, which was Kaprizov's rookie season in the NHL.
The Wild went on to win 3-2 in double overtime to take a 1-0 series lead.
More must-reads: