Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Kucherov delivers dangerous hit

An extremely high probability exists where Nikita Kucherov is named a Hart Trophy finalist and winner when all is said and done at the end of the National Hockey League regular season, but between a lacklustre effort at the All-Star game and the hit that went uncalled during Tampa Bay's visit to Montreal Thursday night, you have to wonder if he is getting away with murder as league officials, including referees and linesmen, may be turning a blind eye to his antics.

During the hit in question, Habs defenseman Kaiden Guhle skated behind his net to gather the puck. During the play in which he attempted to chip it with his back clearly to the play, Kucherov came in behind him and hit him with full force in the numbers.

Kucherov is arguably one of the best players in the National Hockey League and is well on his way to at least receiving tremendous consideration for the Hart Trophy, but plays like this in which he hits a player in a vulnerable position have to stop, but how?

Also, if the officials are going to sit on their whistles while instances such as this continue to occur, at what cost will the league take action and give the aggressors exactly what they deserve in terms of a stiff penalty, a large fine, or a chance to sit in the press box for an undetermined period of time?