The NHL’s Department of Player Safety handed out a pair of fines for an incident during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoff Qualifiers series between the Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild.
Canucks forward Micheal Ferland has been fined $5,000 for spearing, while Wild winger Luke Kunin has been fined $1,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The incident came at 9:18 of the third period of Sunday’s game. Kunin grabbed a hold of Ferland’s stick from the bench. The Canucks forward wrestled his twig free, then jabbed it back, hitting Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman.
Ferland was given a minor penalty for slashing on the play. The Wild received a bench minor for interference.
Spearins is clearly defined in the NHL rulebook.
62.1 Spearing – Spearing shall mean stabbing an opponent with the point of the stick blade, whether contact is made or not.
62.2 Double-minor Penalty – A double-minor penalty will be imposed on a player who spears an opponent and does not make contact.
62.3 Major Penalty – A major penalty shall be imposed on a player who spears an opponent (see 62.5).
62.4 Match Penalty – A match penalty shall be imposed on a player who injures an opponent as a result of a spear.
62.5 Game Misconduct Penalty – Whenever a major penalty is assessed for spearing, a game misconduct penalty must also be imposed.
Referees for the game were Kelly Sutherland and TJ Luxmore. Linesmen were Pierre Racicot and Andrew Smith.
