Florida Panthers winger William Lockwood has been suspended for three games for a hit that injured Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
Early in the first period of Friday’s game, Fleury went behind the net to stop the puck. Lockwood, coming in with speed on the forecheck, collided with the goaltender, knocking him to the ice. Fleury remained in the game, only to leave during the second period with what the Wild called an ‘upper body injury.’ He did not return to the game.
Lockwood was given a minor penalty for roughing on the play – which came just 2:15 into the game – by referees Jake Brenk and Eric Furlatt.
Goaltenders cannot be hit outside of the goal crease. From Rule 69:
A goalkeeper is not “fair game” just because he is outside the goal crease. The appropriate penalty should be assessed in every case where an attacking player makes unnecessary contact with the goalkeeper. However, incidental contact will be permitted when the goalkeeper is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such unnecessary contact.
When a goalkeeper has played the puck outside of his crease and is then prevented from returning to his crease area due to the deliberate actions of an attacking player, such player may be penalized for goalkeeper interference.
Yes, Lockwood is entitled to his space on the ice, but so is Fleury, hence the interference call on the contact that took the goaltender out of the play.
“Nothing really gets you more into the game than ‘Flower’ getting run over,’” Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman told The Athletic. “Guys took exception to it in the right way. It started the game emotional.”
The Florida Panthers sought revenge on Lockwood for the hit as Brandon Duhaime and Lockwood dropped the gloves later in the period.
“Maybe [Lockwood] wasn’t intentionally doing it, but it’s something we needed to address,” Duhaime said. “Never want to see a guy lay on the ice like that. It’s pretty brutal. Tough to watch. Hope he makes a full recovery.”
Lockwood, appearing disoriented, was helped off the ice after the scrap.
The last time the NHL’s Department of Player Safety handed out supplemental discipline for goaltender interference was during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when Washington Capitals forward Anthony Mantha was fined $5000 for running Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask.
Lockwood forfeits $12,109.38 in salary as a result of the suspension.
The Minnesota Wild won the game 6-4 over the Florida Panthers. Referees were Jake Brenk (#26) and Eric Furlatt (#27), with linespersons Ryan Daisy (#81) and Shandor Alphonso (#52).
