We officially have the first big hit of the Stanley Cup Final, and boy was it an insane one.
Boston's Torrey Krug was being defended by St. Louis' David Perron in the offensive zone during Game 1 and was having some trouble. Perron wouldn't let up and Krug just couldn't lose him.
Krug finally broke free (losing his helmet in the process) just as the Blues regained possession. He then skated at pace and absolutely levelled Robert Thomas.
Torrey Krug with an absolute monster of a hit on Robert Thomas:
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) May 28, 2019
(via @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/LNrySTMk98
Krug left the ice as he initiated the hit and his body nearly went parallel with the ice. Thomas' skates also left the ice and he went down hard.
MORE: How 'Play Gloria' has become the rallying cry of the St. Louis Blues
Many were calling for a charging penalty on Krug, but the whistle never came. Twitter had its fair share of reactions to the brutal hit.
How the hell is that not a charging penalty on Krug? Wow.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 28, 2019
A HELMET-LESS TOREY KRUG SMOKING ROBERT THOMAS IS THE NEW FLYING ORR
— DJ Bean (ORIGINAL TWEETER) (@DJ_Bean) May 28, 2019
Hit of the playoffs by [checks notes] 3-foot-1 Torey Krug
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 28, 2019
Get some Krug!!!!!!! @ToreyKrug
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) May 28, 2019
TOREY KRUG RUNNING AROUND LAYING HITS ON PEOPLE WITHOUT HIS HELMET LIKE IT'S 1970 AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/FPMFD19b8Q
— Liam Martin (@LiamWBZ) May 28, 2019
Torey Krug literally raced the length of the ice and levelled Robert Thomas after being tangled up with David Perron. Charging? Yes. Called? No.
— Scott Burnside (@OvertimeScottB) May 28, 2019
Our heads are still ringing just from watching that hit.