VIDEO: Sabres' Ennis gets game misconduct for tapping official with stick

Buffalo Sabres forward Tyler Ennis lost his cool on Friday night, and now it might cost him.

Ennis may face supplemental discipline for abuse of an official after taking out his frustration on a linesman in the final moments of a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

As time expired, Ennis skated past Derek Nansen after an offside call and tapped him on the hand with his stick.

Ennis was given a game misconduct, which is automatic for any player who deliberately applies physical force that could cause injury, according to Rule 40.2.

Abuses of officials are reviewed by the NHL's Hockey Operations department rather than the Department of Player Safety.

Ennis' act appears to fall under the third category of abuse of officials in the rule book (40.4 Category III), which carries a minimum suspension of three games:

Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or physically threatens an official by (but not limited to) throwing a stick or any other piece of equipment or object at or in the general direction of an official, shooting the puck at or in the general direction of an official, spitting at or in the general direction of an official, or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.

The officials will now provide verbal and written reports to the league office, and a conference call with Ennis will be held. He has up to 72 hours to appeal if a suspension is issued.