from Tim Campbell of NHL.com,

While the two centers were waiting for opening faceoff, Kesler used his stick to jab Johansen in the leg, knocking him off balance before the puck was dropped.

When it was over and the Ducks had a 5-3 victory to tie the best-of-7 series 1-1, Johansen was somewhat incredulous at Kesler's tactics.

Game 3 is at Nashville on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA Sports).

"I mean if I … he just blows my mind, watching what's going through his head out there," Johansen said. "Like his family and friends watching him play; I don't know how you cheer for a guy like that. It just doesn't make sense how he plays the game.

"I'm just trying to go out there and play hockey and it [stinks] when you've got to pull a stick out of your groin every shift."

Johansen was asked if he's encountered any other opponent who goes as far with defensive tactics as Kesler.

"Oh no. Not at all," he said. "He doesn't do anything that makes sense. He's just … he thinks he's getting under guys' skin, but he's just … I don't know what he's doing. Really, I can't even put a finger on it."

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Below, watch Kesler and Johansen post-game...