Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson received a double-minor penalty for butt-ending Michael McCarron of the Minnesota Wild.

The play came 7:07 into the opening period of Monday’s Game 4.  As Manson moved the puck up ice, McCarron checked him into the boards. The two players got tangled up and fell to the ice right in front of referee Trevor Hanson. 

As the two wrestled on the ice, Manson jabbed the end of his stick into McCarron’s head. 

 

 

There as no initial call on the play. Since there must be a call on the ice in order to go to video review, it’s likely one of the linespersons reported the incident – which is covered as part of their duties under Rule 32:

The Linesperson must report upon completion of play, any circumstances pertaining to … Major penalties … Match penalties

After review, the on-ice officials reduced Manson’s penalty to a double-minor. 

Butt-ending is covered under Rule 58:

Butt-ending [is] 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.

All penalty review decisions are made exclusively by the on-ice referees; the Situation Room does not rule on those plays.


 

Officials for the game were referees Jean Hebert (#15) and Trevor Hanson (#14) with linespersons Shandor Alphonso (#52) and Ryan Gibbons (#58).

Colorado leads their best-of-seven series 2-1.