New Jersey Devils forward Evan Rodrigues has been fined $5,000 for high-sticking Vancouver Canucks center Marco Rossi on Saturday, the Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.

With about 10 seconds left in the second period, Rodrigues and Rossi lined up for a center-ice faceoff after a false start. Rossi shoved Rodrigues away from the dot; Rodrigues answered by jabbing his stick up into Rossi’s chest. Rossi crumpled to the ice.

Referees Francois St-Laurent and Stephen Hiff initially assessed a spearing major. After reviewing the play, they downgraded it to a double-minor for high-sticking – four minutes instead of five, and no game misconduct.

Canucks coach Manny Malhotra said he disagreed with the officials’ explanation, though he refused to share what was actually said.

We also disagree with the eventual ruling; we thought they got it right the first time. 

Spearing vs. High Sticking

Spearing is covered under Rule 62:

Spearing shall mean stabbing an opponent with the point of the stick blade, whether contact is made or not. 

A double-minor penalty will be imposed on a player who spears an opponent and does not make contact.

A major penalty shall be imposed on a player who spears an opponent. … Whenever a major penalty is assessed for spearing, a game misconduct penalty must also be imposed.

What the review evidently decided: there was no stabbing motion. The stick rode up into the neck – resulting in contact above the shoulders causing injury – falling under a double-minor for high-sticking (Rule 60.3).

The tough part is that there does appear to be a stabbing motion. The Devils’ center’s stick movement is parallel to the stick shaft.  There’s also clearly contact, which requires a major penalty under the spearing rule. 

Player Safety Takes Disciplinary Action

Player Safety sided with the officials’ reclassification, issuing the fine is for high-sticking, not spearing. 

There’s precedent for exactly this sequence. In the 2021 playoffs, Boston’s David Krejci was given a spearing major that was reduced to a slashing minor on review; Player Safety then hit him with the $5,000 maximum for slashing. Initally a major, downgraded after review, with a fine handed out by the league. 

The fine to Rodrigues is the maximum allowable under the CBA without a formal hearing.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Officials for the game were referees Francois St. Laurent (#8) and recently-promoted Stephen Hiff (#33), with Julien Fournier (#56) and Brandon Grillo (#75) on lines.