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11/23 15:32 CST Stars forward Mikko Rantanen gets automatic 1-game suspension
over 2nd ejection in 3 games
Stars forward Mikko Rantanen gets automatic 1-game suspension over 2nd ejection
in 3 games
NEW YORK (AP) --- The NHL issued an automatic one-game suspension to Mikko
Rantanen on Sunday after the Dallas Stars forward's second major penalty and
ejection for boarding in a span of three games.
The first suspension of Rantanen's 10-year NHL career came a day after he
checked Calgary's Matt Coronato into the side boards late in the second period
of the Flames' 3-2 shootout victory. Coronato bled from a cut on his nose but
later returned to the game.
The league issued a statement from its department of player safety saying a
player is automatically suspended for a game when he receives two game
misconduct penalties, or ejections, in a span of 41 consecutive games played.
Rantanen wasn't suspended after getting a five-minute major penalty and game
misconduct for pushing Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov into the end
boards as both were skating close to full speed and falling to the ice in the
final minute of New York's 3-2 win on Tuesday.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy was incensed over Rantanen's hit on Romanov and
screamed at the Dallas player as he went to the locker room through a tunnel
between both benches.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan defended Rantanen because he believed his skate was
clipped by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield's to cause him to raise his arms
for balance just before the contact with Romanov, who the Islanders said will
have shoulder surgery and be out five to six months.
The league's punishment after Rantanen's hit on Coronato was announced without
a hearing. A hearing would be required for a longer suspension.
"The league's going to look at it," Gulutzan said after the Calgary game. "He's
tracking back there. I know he's committed to hitting him. It's unfortunate. I
hope he's OK. He turns at the last minute. It's hard to stop. They'll decide.
They've seen enough of those hits."
Rantanen is in his first full season with Dallas after getting traded twice
last season. Colorado, the team that drafted the Finnish standout, sent the
29-year-old to Carolina before the Stars acquired him at the trade deadline.
Rantanen has 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 22 games this season.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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