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Dirty play? Coyotes coach upset after player injured by opponent

Posted at 10:23 PM, Apr 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-04 01:23:13-04

Arizona Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet was upset after the Coyotes' win at the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night for what he called a "dirty play" that forced young defenseman Jakob Chychrun out of the game.

Late in the first period of the Coyotes' 4-1 victory, Flames forward Michael Frolik was called for a tripping penalty against Chychrun on a play that could be described as a slew foot, in which a player intentionally trips an opponent from behind.

Chychrun left the game and did not return. After the game, Tocchet criticized the play by Frolik and suggested Chychrun's injury could be serious.

"I know he's not a dirty player, but it's a dirty play. I don't like it at all," Tocchet said. "I don't know how Chych is right now. We've got to evaluate him. It's not good. We're hoping for the best."

The Coyotes selected Chychrun in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft. He has recorded 11 goals and 23 assists in 117 NHL games.

Chychrun's injury came just three days after he scored a goal on his 20th birthday in the Coyotes' 6-0 win over the St. Louis Blues.