Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist will face further discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for a vicious high stick to the face of Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon on Sunday.
The incident occurred in the first period. He was given only a double minor for high-sticking, however, the league just announced Nyquist has been offered an in-person hearing, which could mean a suspension of six games or more. The date and time of the hearing have yet to be determined.
“I didn’t mean to do that,” Nyquist told the Detroit Free Press. “My stick gets caught, I am trying to get body position on him. I’m happy he was out there again. I had no intention of doing that. My stick gets caught. It looks bad, but I’m happy he’s OK.
“Obviously, I’ve got to have better control of my stick.”
Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk believed Nyquist should’ve been given a major penalty on the play.
“I just don’t understand how that’s not a five-minute penalty,” Dubnyk told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Obviously he’s not a player that is going to, I want to say do it on purpose except anybody watching the game … it’s a five-minute penalty regardless.”
And here is Bruce Boudreau’s take:
Boudreau on Nyquist high stick on Spurgeon: "Two inches closer, the guy could have speared his eye out."#mnwild #redwings
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 12, 2017