New York Rangers winger Brennan Othmann won’t face supplemental discipline for an elbow that got him ejected from Sunday’s preseason game against the New Jersey Devils.

Late in the third period, the puck was sent deep into the Devils’ zone. As the puck rebounded off the end boards, defenseman Calen Addison moved to play the puck. Before he got there, though, Othmann caught him with a hit up high.

 

 

The Blueshirts forward raises his right arm prior to initiating contact, lifting his arm and shoulder into Addison’s head. This could easily have also been called an Illegal Check to the Head, as head contact was avoidable and Othmann could have delivered a hit through his opponent’s core.

It is important to note that, having not yet played the puck, Addison was not eligible to be checked on the play, making this a clear case of interference.   

Othmann was issued a five-minute major for elbowing by referees Jean Hebert and Beau Halkidis, which includes an automatic game misconduct. 
  

Rule 45 – Elbowing

Elbowing shall mean the use of an extended elbow in a manner that may or may not cause injury.

The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a minor penalty, based on the degree of violence, to a player guilty of
elbowing an opponent.

A major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any player who uses his elbow to illegally check an opponent. A major penalty must be imposed under this rule for an infraction resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent.

When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for an infraction resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent, a game misconduct penalty shall also be imposed.

The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent by elbowing.

 

Addison did not return to the game. 

“He was feeling okay but they wanted to defer any sort of decision until later on,” Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the Devils’ 5-3 loss.

 

Officials for the game were referees Jean Hebert (#15) and Beau Halkidis (#48) skating alongside lineys Kyle Flemington (#55) and Scott Cherrey (#50).