Sometimes you just need to keep your mouth shut.
Carolina’s Ron Hainsey objected to a late penalty for hooking New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh. Hainsey was restrained by linesman John Grandt as he argued the call with referee Dan O’Rourke.
O’Rourke, obviously not pleased with the protest, hit Hainsey with a second penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Rule 75 requires a minor penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct for:
i) Any identifiable player who uses obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures directed at any person
Since Hainsey’s outburst was directed at an official, Rule 39 comes into play:
A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions:
(i) Any player who challenges or disputes the ruling of an official.
(ii) Any identifiable player who uses obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures directed at any on or off-ice official
With 6:47 to play, Hainsey went off for four minutes.
During that time, the Rangers scored on the power play en route to a 3-2 victory.
