Vilmanis recalls elbow incident against Bruins and the ensuing backlash

Sandis Vilmanis, a Latvian hockey player in the NHL, recalls an incident from a February 2026 game against the Boston Bruins. During the match, Vilmanis elbowed an opponent, resulting in a jaw injury. He received a two-minute penalty for the hit, and afterward, his coach pulled him from the game and did not let him return.

The reaction on social media was extremely harsh, with criticism escalating into what Vilmanis described as a virtual lynching. In an interview with TVNET+, he admitted realizing 'it wasn't good' and remembered what his coach told him after deciding not to put him back on the ice. He also commented on the hockey community's response, noting that it was severe.