Wings’ Nyquist suspended 6 games for spearing
Blue Jackets thrash Leafs; Blues roll on
Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist will sit out six games as a result of his recklessness.
The NHL’s department of player safety announced the suspension Wednesday evening, hours after Nyquist was given an opportunity to present a defense. It is the first suspension of Nyquist’s career. Detroit general manager Ken Holland said there will not be an appeal.
Nyquist is tied for third on the team with 29 points. He is eligible to return March 4 at Edmonton. His absence comes as the Wings are desperate to rise from the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but has been expected for three days, ever since Nyquist drew attention for nasty, and unusual, behavior.
During the first period of Sunday’s game at Minnesota against the Wild, Nyquist was engaged
in a puck battle along the boards. After being cross-checked from behind by Jared Spurgeon, Nyquist turned around, lifted his stick and speared Spurgeon in the face.
Nyquist was assessed a doubleminor for high-sticking on the play. But that severe punishment awaited him became clear as Nyquist was invited to defend himself in person at the league office. He turned that down, opting for a phone hearing.
VERMETTE’S SLASH: Anaheim Ducks center Antoine Vermette is facing the likely prospect of a 10-game suspension from the NHL for slashing a linesman.
Vermette slapped his stick against the back of linesman Shandor Alphonso’s legs after losing a faceoff to Minnesota’s Mikko Koivu during the third period of the Ducks’ 1-0 win Tuesday night.
Vermette had a disciplinary conference call with the league and the players’ union Wednesday, but the NHL didn’t issue an immediate confirmation of what’s expected to be an automatic 10-game suspension under league rules for applying physical force to an official without intent to injure.
Vermette appeared to act out of frustration when Alphonso dropped the puck before the forward had put his stick in place
on the ice. Wednesday games BLUE JACKETS 5, MAPLE
LEAFS 2: In Columbus, Ohio, Nick Foligno and Boone Jenner each scored a goal, and backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo made 31 saves as Columbus beat Toronto.
Josh Anderson, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Matt Calvert also scored, and Alexander Wennberg, Zach Werenski and Seth Jones had a pair of assists each for the Blue Jackets. Columbus moved into a tie with Pittsburgh for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
BLUES 2, RED WINGS 0: In Detroit, Carter Hutton made 25 saves for his second straight shutout, Ivan Barbashev scored 2:06 into the game and Jaden Schwartz had an empty-net goal in the final seconds to help St. Louis beat Detroit.
The Blues have won a seasonhigh five straight games, and coach Mike Yeo has won six of seven since replacing the fired Ken Hitchcock. FLAMES 3, FLYERS 1: In Calgary, Alberta, the Flames’ T.J. Brodie broke a 1-1 tie at 12:45 of the second period as Calgary beat Philadelphia, which began a three-game trip through western Canada.
Flames goalie Brian Elliott had 33 saves.