Detroit Red Wings forward Luke Witkowski has been suspended 10 games by the NHL for his role in a brawl that occurred Wednesday night in a game against the Calgary Flames.
As you can see in the video at the top of the screen, Witkowski was ejected late in an 8-2 Red Wings victory but seconds after he was sent to the locker room he stepped back onto the ice.
Within section 70.6 of the NHL Rulebook it states:
“Any player who has been ordered to the dressing room by the officials and returns to his bench or to the ice surface for any reason before the appropriate time shall be assessed a game misconduct and shall be suspended automatically without pay for the next ten (10) regular League and/or Play-off games.”
Witkowski finished the game with 37 penalty minutes.
“I’d say he was about one step off as (Matthew) Tkachuk hit him with his stick from behind and he took one step back on and nothing happened,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill told on Hockey Central at Noon Thursday. “From Witkowski’s side I don’t think it was anything… I think Luke could have made it way worse and chose not to.”
Tkachuk received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for spearing in the melee and could be facing more discipline. He will have a hearing with the league on Friday.
If Tkachuk is suspended this will be the second suspension in his career. He was suspended two games in March for an elbow on Drew Doughty.
The Flames next play on Friday night in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
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