LOS ANGELES _ Corey Perry's slash on Ryan Hartman in the Blackhawks' 4-0 loss to the Ducks on Thursday night certainly looked like a dirty play.
After a whistle in the first period, Perry whipped his stick at Hartman's right arm and connected, sending Hartman to the dressing room in immediate pain.
Luckily for the Hawks, Hartman was able to return, and neither he nor coach Joel Quenneville got up in arms afterward about the slash.
Hartman was wearing a splint on his right hand, but he had on a similar splint after the morning skate Thursday.
"It's part of hockey," Hartman said of the slash. "It happens in chippy games. It's a big hit. They do some of those things, but it's just a part of hockey."
Quenneville said he didn't know if the slash was flagrant and was satisfied that Perry was called for a minor penalty.
It was the beginning of a rough night that featured several scraps.
During the third period, Nick Ritchie landed a punch on Hawks defenseman Michal Rozsival after Rozsival cross-checked Perry. Ritchie appeared to cut Rozsival, who Quenneville said is day to day because of an upper-body injury. Andrew Desjardins suffered a lower-body injury and is day to day.
The Hawks and Ducks could meet again in the playoffs, a combustible matchup based on Thursday's physicality.
"When you have playoff rivalries or series, it's easy to rekindle those games, the intensity and the rivalries," Quenneville said. "Players see things, but at the end of the day, they'll be smart."
