Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot has been fined $5,000 for butt-ending New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec.
The play happened after a goal by the Red Wings to cut the Devils’ lead to one. A scrum broke out with players pushing and shoving. In the middle of the fracas, Chiarot delivered a back-handed butt-end to Nemec, catching him in the midsection.
There was no penalty on the play. With no call on the ice, this is not eligible for video review by the referees.
Butt-ending is covered under Rule 58:
Butt-ending [is defined as] the action whereby a player uses the shaft of the stick, above the upper hand, to check an opposing player in any manner or jabs or attempts to jab an opposing player with this part of the stick.
A double-minor penalty will be imposed on a player who attempts to butt-end an opponent.
A major penalty shall be imposed on a player who butt-ends an opponent. When a major penalty is imposed for butt-ending, a game misconduct penalty must also be assessed.
A match penalty shall be imposed on a player who injures an opponent as a result of a butt-end.
It’s a different rule from spearing (Rule 62), but they shake out the same way, with a double-minor for an attempt and a major and game if you connect.
This is not the first time Chiarot has found himself in trouble for a butt-end. In 2017, then with the Winnipeg Jets, he delivered a butt-end to the chin of Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry. While he was not penalized, Chiarot was fined $3,763 by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
He’s also previously been fined $3,763 for cross-checking (2019) and $5,000 for head-butting (2022),
Chiarot’s fine is the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement without a formal hearing.
The Detroit Red Wings fell to the New Jersey Devils 4-3. Officials for the game were Tom Chmielewski (#18) and Chris Lee (#28), with Jonathan Deschamps (#80) and Matt MacPherson (#83) on lines.
