VIDEO: Rangers' Carcillo ejected for making contact with linesman
After Montreal's Brandon Prust caught New York's Derek Stepan with a late hit early in the first period of Game 3 Thursday, Dan Carcillo got himself involved by taking a run at Benoit Pouliot, earning a minor penalty for charging as a result.
In the ensuing moments, Brust and Derek Dorsett began to engage in a round of fisticuffs while Carcillo was held at bay by an official; unfortunately, Carcillo's exuberance got the best of him, and he appeared to catch the linesman in the chin with an elbow, resulting in a game misconduct.
Between this and the Prust hit, the NHL's department of player safety may be rather busy in advance of Game 4. This will probably not end well.
Likely won't get word until morning, but sense Dan Carcillo may be in for a long suspension. 10 or 20 games according to rule 40.3 or 40.2
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 23, 2014
From the rulebook:
40.2 Automatic Suspension – Category I - Any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an official shall be automatically suspended for not less than twenty (20) games. (For the purpose of the rule, “intent to injure” shall mean any physical force which a player or goalkeeper knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.)
40.3 Automatic Suspension – Category II - Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, or who spits on an official,shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.