The NHL’s player safety department handed down one-game suspensions to Calgary Flames forward John Beecher and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley separately on Sunday for roughing incidents.
Beecher unexpectedly punched Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron while being held by two linesmen at 13:15 in the first period of Calgary’s 4-3 defeat on Saturday. The punch came shortly after McCarron initiated a physical altercation by swinging at Beecher during a scuffle near the Flames’ bench.
After receiving a roughing minor and a 10-minute misconduct during the game, the 24-year-old Beecher left the game due to an injury sustained while fighting Nashville’s Nic Hague in the second period.
On the other hand, Stanley threw a punch without his glove at Brady Tkachuk’s face without warning 12:07 into the second period of Winnipeg’s 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. The 27-year-old Stanley was penalized with a roughing minor and an illegal equipment minor, while Tkachuk, angered by the incident, received a 10-minute misconduct.
Neither Beecher nor Stanley had faced suspensions or fines in their NHL careers before. Beecher has appeared in 155 games, while Stanley has played in 242 matches.
