Just as Torey Krug isn't afraid to throw his body around without a helmet on, his teammates aren't afraid to make fun of him for it.
The Boston Bruins defenseman unloaded what might be the biggest hit of the postseason in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, leveling St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas in the third period after skating down the ice helmetless.
Krug's helmet popped off during a scrum in front of Boston's net, but goaltender Tuukka Rask had another theory.
"I think he had no helmet on so he wanted to make sure he made the highlights to make that hit," Rask wisecracked after the Bruins' rousing 4-2 win at TD Garden.
Rask might be onto something: When asked about the hit after the game, Krug responded, "Just glad I got a haircut a few days ago."
Krug's ploy to get his luscious locks on the highlight reel certainly worked, as some awesome photos of the defenseman's hit emerged.
Krug did more than just lay the lumber, though, tying a team high with four shots on goal while leading the Bruins in ice time (25:24) as they jumped out to a 1-0 series lead in the Cup Final.
"He's the type of guy that never gives up," Rask added of Krug. "I saw him battling in front of the net, and I just wanted to tell him to get out of there and join the rush, but you're playing in the Final, so there's going to be battles all over the ice."
Boston Bruins
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