Calgary Flames’ Lucic on Smith hit: ‘If I actually did charge, we both wouldn’t be playing’

Milan Lucic and his head coach are on the same page — the situation could have been a whole lot worse.

The bruising Calgary Flames forward was assessed a five-minute major and ejected from the third period of Sunday’s Game 3 loss to Edmonton after barrelling into Oilers’ goaltender Mike Smith.

Lucic appeared to try and let up on the play, but still sent the veteran netminder flying with Calgary trailing 4-0.

“They called it charging, correct?” Flames bench boss Darryl Sutter said following a 4-1 Edmonton victory that pushed the Oilers ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

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“Could you imagine if (Lucic) did charge, what would have happened there? He actually tried to slow it down a little bit, I think.

“It is what it is. It was the score and who it was. That’s what they called.”

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Smith was ordered to leave the game under the NHL’s concussion protocol. Smith returned after being replaced by Mikko Koskinen for 4:15. Koskinen did not face a shot on goal.

“It’s not an ideal situation to leave the game in the third period with 11 minutes left, but I get the reason for it,” Smith said, referring to the NHL’s concussion protocol.

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Lucic, who once levelled Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller as a member of the Boston Bruins more than decade ago, chose his words carefully when speaking with the media Monday, but echoed Sutter’s overall thoughts.

“I wasn’t trying to hit (Smith) — I was breaking,” said the 33-year-old, a hulking six foot three and 231 pounds. “I don’t think I really want to get into what I was thinking or what I was trying to do or if he sold it or if he didn’t.

“But I think I agree with Darryl in the sense of, if I actually did charge we both wouldn’t be playing (in Game 4).”

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1:55 Edmonton Oilers fans thrilled with 4-1 victory over Calgary Flames in Game 3

Lucic added later the Flames, who finished atop the Pacific Division before besting the Dallas Stars in seven games in the opening round, need to take a step back after consecutive performances that weren’t up to their standard following a 9-6 victory in Game 1.

“This is a good time to just decompress,” he said. “And realize that it’s great to be in second round of the playoffs, playing the Battle of Alberta.

“Take a few deep breaths and just soak it all in and enjoy it.”

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— With files from Reid Wiklins, 630 CHED