Arizona Coyotes Rookie Max Domi Suspended For Going After Ryan Garbutt
Arizona Coyotes rookie Max Domi was automatically suspended by the NHL Player Safety department for instigating in the final five minutes of last night’s 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Arizona Coyotes rookie Max Domi has been automatically suspended by the NHL Department of Player Safety due to the instigator penalty he received late in the 5-1 loss to Anaheim.
Head coach Dave Tippett will also be fined $10,000 for the incident.
Domi took exception to a hit levied on Oliver Ekman-Larsson late in the game by Ryan Garbutt and went after the Ducks forward.
After crosschecking Garbutt from behind, Domi dropped his gloves and spun Garbutt to face him and began throwing punches.
The hit from Garbutt caught OEL as he was squaring after playing the puck, knocking him backwards into the boards. It wasn’t the first hard hit or questionable shot the Coyotes star defender had taken in the contest.
The suspension is automatically given (pending review) under NHL Rule 46.22. It reads as follows:
"Fines and Suspensions – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) –A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime (see 46.12), shall be suspended for one game, pending a review of the incident.When the one-game suspension is imposed, the Coach shall be fined $10,000 – a fine that will double for each subsequent incident.The suspension shall be served unless, upon review of the incident, the Director of Hockey Operations, at his discretion, deems the incident is not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, “message sending”, etc. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties.No team appeals will be permitted either verbally or in writing regarding the assessment of this automatic suspension as all incidents are reviewed by the Director of Hockey Operations as outlined above."
Domi will now miss the Arizona Coyotes matchup against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.
Seeing as they are now light years out of the playoff picture, it’s hard to argue that the punishment wasn’t well earned.
With few Coyotes stepping up on the ice outside of fellow youngster Jarred Tinordi, Max Domi took matters into his own hands and stood up for his team.
Next: Domi Goes After Garbutt For Hit On OEL
It shouldn’t have ever gotten to that point in the contest. The refereeing was horrible on both sides and despite the shots on OEL the Ducks had eight power play opportunities to the Arizona Coyotes’ four.
Max Domi wasn’t the name who should’ve confronted Ryan Garbutt for the hit late in the contest. He was the one who did, though.
It’s a one game suspension I doubt he regrets.