Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg accepts Raffi Torres’ apology for ‘bad hit’
Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg celebrates a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the final minutes of an NHL playoff game on April 18.
Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg, knocked out of an exhibition game last week by an illegal hit to his head delivered by Sharks forward Raffi Torres, said he appreciated the apology Torres made last week but declined to comment on the NHL’s decision to suspend Torres for 41 games.
The Ducks and Sharks will meet Saturday at SAP Center for the first time since that incident. It will be the Ducks’ season opener and the home opener for the Sharks, who started their season with a 5-1 victory over the Kings on Wednesday at Staples Center.
“It’s nice of him to apologize. I’m grateful for that,” Silfverberg said, “but I think it was a bad hit and I’m just leaving it at that.”
Silfverberg missed several practices but was expected to play Saturday night on a line with left wing Andrew Cogliano and center Ryan Kesler.
Torres’ suspension was his fifth, in addition to his having received three warnings and two fines. According to the league’s narration of the video explaining its ruling, Torres “takes four strides before driving into a high, late hit that makes Silfverberg’s head the main point of contact.”
Torres didn’t appeal the suspension and issued a statement through the Sharks in which he apologized to Silfverberg and added, “I’m extremely thankful that he wasn’t seriously injured as a result of the play.”
Silfverberg wouldn’t say what he thought of the NHL’s sanctions.
“I kind of leave that to the professionals. It’s tough for me to say,” he said. “You’ve got to believe that they know what they’re doing. I don’t know if it’s good or bad but you’ve just got to trust them.”
Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said Saturday’s game would be too important to both teams for anyone to carry over any ill will left from Torres’ hit on Silfverberg.
“When we play a Pacific Division team it’s about playing the game. I think it will be what we usually see out of these two teams— two hard-hitting, skating teams.”
The lines/defense pairs from the morning skate:
Hagelin-Getzlaf-Stewart
Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg
Sekac-Rakell-Perry
Maroon-Horcoff-Santorelli
Stoner-Vatanen
Fowler-Despres
Lindholm-Bieksa
Goal-Frederik Andersen
Follow Helene Elliott on Twitter @helenenothelen
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