Brett Howden's Hard Hit On Jiri Kulich Draws Different Reactions From Opposing Media Members

A trainer attends to Buffalo Sabres center Jiri Kulich (20) after he gets checked during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Jack Eichel may no longer be the most hated Golden Knight in Buffalo.

Brett Howden, who gave Vegas a 1-0 lead in the first period of Saturday's matinee in Buffalo, delivered a hard hit on Jiri Kulich in the second period. The hit prompted former Knight Peyton Krebs to instigate a fight with Howden.

Brett Howden's big hit on Jiri Kulich sparks a fight between Krebs and Howden! 🥊 pic.twitter.com/wBWbCGXCBT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 15, 2025

And with that came a chorus of boos from the crowd inside Buffalo's KeyBank Center, and a variety or responses on "X" from beat writers who cover both teams.

Interestingly, they all had their own way of phrasing their posts.

From the Vegas media:

Brett Howden laid a crushing hit on Kulich, and immediately had to drop the gloves to answer for it.

Vegas will get a power play out of it due to the instigator to Krebs.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) March 15, 2025

Brett Howden with a hip check on Jiri Kulich who’s turning around Noah Hanifin. Kulich hurt on the play. Krebs jumps in and instigates a fight with Howden.

Vegas getting a power play out of this one.
— Ryan The Hockey Guy (@RyanHockeyGuy) March 15, 2025

Holy cow, what a hit by Brett Howden. Lays out Kulich with a clean hit, then drops the gloves with Krebs, who gets a 5 for fighting and a misconduct.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) March 15, 2025

Buffalo media members saw it a bit differently, with an added adjective or two:

Jiri Kulich is down on the ice. Doesn't look good.

Howden with a high hit while the Sabres rookie wasn't looking. Krebs went after Howden.
— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) March 15, 2025

Brett Howden just knocked Jiri Kulich down to the ice w/ an iffy hit. He just skated off the ice. Peyton Krebs immediately fought Howden.
— Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) March 15, 2025

Jiri Kulich down on the ice after a big hit up high from Brett Howden, Kulich now being helped off.

Peyton Krebs immediately goes to address it with Howden, but Krebs gets the 2, 5 and a 10 while Howden only gets a 5 for the nasty hit.
— Jonathan Acosta (@_jacosta) March 15, 2025

Rough hit on Kulich by Howden. Right to the head as Kulich was going to the ice. Krebs defends him and gets 17 minutes. Howden gets 5. Kulich to the room. #Sabres #VGK
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) March 15, 2025

The aftermath?

Howden was assessed a penalty for fighting, while Krebs got one too, and an extra two minutes for instigating and a 10-minute misconduct.

Thus, the Golden Knights ended up on the power play.

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