Victor Hedman says Andrew Shaw bite isn’t gnawing at him

TAMPA – Victor Hedman couldn’t remember the last time another person bit him before Andrew Shaw allegedly chomped him  in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. 

“I’m sure I was when I was a kid. But I haven’t really thought about it,” he said.

On Wednesday night, Hedman got into a scrum with Shaw, the Chicago Blackhawks physical forward. Then he went to the Tampa Bay Lightning bench, lifted up his shirt to a teammate and appeared to say “he bit me.” After the game, Hedman said: “It felt like it. I have a little bruise, so maybe.”

On the eve of Game 2 of the Final, Hedman said he’s trying not to allow Shaw’s antics to gnaw at him.

“I’m not going to comment on that anymore. Things happen during games. I’ll leave it at that,” he said.

But he did clearly say “he bit me” on the bench, right? “Everyone who watched that could see what I said. If you saw that, I don’t have to say anymore.”

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety reviewed the incident and didn’t discipline Shaw for the alleged chomp. The video wasn’t clear, or at least as clear as the most infamous bite in Stanley Cup Final history between Alex Burrows and Patrice Bergeron. Maybe it was a bite, maybe it was a pinch. Whatever it was, there wasn’t enough for the NHL to even administer a fine.

Which was fine by Hedman.

“I haven’t really paid attention to that to be honest with you,” he said on the potential for supplemental discipline for Shaw. “Obviously, yesterday was a day off, trying to get your mind off the game.”

In fact, he likes the way Shaw plays the game.

“You want a player like that, who can get under people’s skin. He’s a great player. Tough to play against. I really like players that play the style he does,” he said.

Even when that style allegedly includes using an opposing defenseman as a chew toy.

“It’s hockey,” said Hedman. 

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