Calgary Flames winger Milan Lucic will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for roughing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kole Sherwood.
Sherwood, making his NHL debut, took a whack at a puck covered by Calgary goaltender David Rittich. Lucic took exception, charging at Sherwood and delivering a gloved punch to the rookie, knocking him to the ice.
Lucic was given two minor penalties for roughing. It’s worth noting that there’s no provision for a roughing double-minor in the NHL rulebook. Roughing can only result in a minor to a skater, with a match penalty for a goaltender who uses his blocker to punch an opponent.
Here’s Rule 51:
Roughing is a punching or slamming motion with or without the glove on the hand, normally directed at the head or face of an opponent, or if a player intentionally removes an opponent’s helmet
A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who strikes an opponent with his hand or fist
Keep in mind, this is distinctly different from punching an unsuspecting opponent without a glove. From Rule 46, which covers fighting:
A match penalty shall be assessed to a player who punches an unsuspecting or unwilling opponent (i.e. “sucker punch”) and causes an injury.
Sherwood was not injured on the play.
Nonetheless, Player Safety would like to have a chat with Lucic.
Calgary’s Milan Lucic will have a hearing Sunday for Roughing Columbus’ Kole Sherwood.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 3, 2019
“I saw the puck,” said Sherwood after the game. “He didn’t have it covered, I think, so until the whistle blows, I’m going for it.”
Sherwood was given two minutes for slashing on the play.
Lucic would be considered a repeat offender under the terms of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. He was fined $10,000 for roughing Tampa Bay’s Mathieu Joseph less than a year ago.
Referees for the game were Dan O’Rourke (#9) and Kevin Pollock (#33). Linesmen were Devin Berg (#87) and Ryan Galloway (#82).