NHL: Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall made clean check (with video)

(Editor's note: Click on http://detne.ws/16344BH if you have trouble seeing the video).

Detroit — Niklas Kronwall's open-ice check on Charlie Coyle of the Minnesota Wild at the beginning of the second period Wednesday was determined to be clean, the NHL said Thursday.

"Player safety reviews every play every night," said Gary Meagher, vice-president of media relations for the NHL. "(The) Kronwall hit was a full-body hit."

Some broadcasters and others in the traditional media, as well as those commenting on blogs and in tweets, asserted Kronwall targeted Coyle's head during one of his patented "Kronwalled" moves along the sideboards.

But replays confirm a clean play, with Kronwall hitting Coyle hard on the upper chest and barely contacting the head.

Kronwall's feet were on the ground as he hit Coyle. As the impact occurs, Kronwall's feet rise. He swings a bit like a pendulum, with his momentum carrying his lower body behind Coyle.

The replays also show while Kronwall carried his stick high during the check, it appeared not to contact Coyle, although the referees called Kronwall for high-sticking and assessed four minutes because Coyle bled.

That referee's decision is not subject to review by the NHL.

Kronwall said he didn't see a conclusive replay of the incident.

"I did feel like I didn't him clean; I just missed him," Kronwall said. "Obviously, when you step up like that you want it to be solid contact and it felt like ... I don't know if I got his shoulder or something like that, or half of him, or whatever.

"If they (the league) come up with something I'll obviously listen to what they have to say."

Ted Kulfan contributed to this report.