If you haven’t seen the video of the Duncan Keith incident, commonly being referred to as Slashgate, you can view that here. It’s not pretty.

HOWEVER, there’s been a bit of new evidence circulating which may have benefited Keith. This video below clearly shows the Wild’s Charlie Coyle brutally cross-checking Keith to the face, and then sweeping his legs out from under him, moments before Keith retaliated.

Hmm…

Perhaps the NHL Department of Player Safety should take this into consideration when dolling out their punishment on No. 2.

Two wrongs doesn’t make a right, but Coyle clearly wasn’t innocent in this whole scenario.

Not to mention, Coyle had the balls to go out and say:

“No matter what happens in a game, you shouldn’t swing your stick at someone’s face like that, ” Coyle said. “That goes from when you’re a mite. Keep your stick on the ice, right? So, obviously, there is no room for that. And I’m sure he wants to take it back. But it was a heat-of-the-moment thing. That’s how it happened.’’

Coyle was left bloodied on the play.

“I was just stunned that it happened, ” he said. “You don’t expect that ever in a game.”

Were you stunned that you picked up your stick and cross-checked Keith in an effort to disintegrate his nose?

Pot. Meet kettle.

Lesson to learn, they hardly ever catch the first guy, it’s always the guy who retaliates that gets burned.