Minnesota Wild: Should Adam Lowry be punished for Eriksson Ek elbow?

ST. PAUL, MN - NOVEMBER 23: Marcus Foligno #17 of the Minnesota Wild goes into the Winnipeg Jets bench to defend his teammate Nick Seeler #36 of the Minnesota Wild who was pushed in there by Adam Lowry #17 of the Winnipeg Jets during a game at Xcel Energy Center on November 23, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Jets 4-2.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - NOVEMBER 23: Marcus Foligno #17 of the Minnesota Wild goes into the Winnipeg Jets bench to defend his teammate Nick Seeler #36 of the Minnesota Wild who was pushed in there by Adam Lowry #17 of the Winnipeg Jets during a game at Xcel Energy Center on November 23, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Jets 4-2.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Minnesota Wild’s game with the Winnipeg Jets was described as proper ‘old-time hockey’; there was grit and toughness on show, but some of it was maybe a little cheap, especially the elbow by Adam Lowry that led to a scrap in the bench.

Now, don’t get me wrong; the Minnesota Wild were not innocent in the whole affair. Adam Lowry caught Joel Eriksson Ek with an elbow pretty much immediately following Jets player, Andrew Copp copping a hit into the stanchion.

That and there had certainly been a big hit on Lowry earlier away from the puck that went unnoticed by the officials. He’d have been riled up, that’s for sure.

Either way, Adam Lowry and the Winnipeg Jets, in general, are starting to get a bit of a reputation for being a little bit dirty.

Andrew Copp underwent concussion protocol as a result, so you can understand why his teammates are fired up, but it makes no excuse for the elbow to Eriksson Ek’s head.

Hence why Nick Seeler stepped in to let Lowry know what he though about the whole situation. The fact he ended up in the Winnipeg Jets bench was predatory (or bad luck).

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It’s completely understandable that Marcus Foligno joins him in there ’cause you’ve essentially got fifteen people in the one place vying for your head. You’d want some back-up too!

It certainly turned the game on its head; the Minnesota Wild actually seemed to grow off the back of the brawl and ended up getting the win, so maybe the Winnipeg Jets will think twice next time.

As for Adam Lowry, I’d be hoping that the Department of Player Safety do something about him. I’m not calling for a lengthy suspension, but something more than a slap on the wrist is definitely required for elbowing.

Elbows shouldn’t be thrown around. Hits, hip checks, even a clean body check; go for it. Elbows are when jaws start getting broken and nobody really wants to see that.

I’m all for physicality in hockey, just let’s ensure it’s the right kind. Hopefully, Lowry sits a couple of games now and this all blows over.

Until next time the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild face off, anyhow!