New York Rangers new fan favorite Brendan Lemieux won’t be suspended following the match penalty that was called on him Wednesday night in Vancouver.
Well, at least it’s not another useless apology from the NHL, the No Hit League. New York Rangers winger Brendan Lemieux will not face a ban after he was issued a match penalty in Wednesday nights 4-1 loss to Vancouver.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported early on Friday that though the match penalty was not rescinded, no further supplemental discipline will occur.
Lemieux was ejected from the contest Wednesday at the 9:45 mark of the second period. It was the team’s second ejection and the second major penalty called on them in that period as Chris Kreider was ejected earlier in the period for a major elbowing penalty.
The controversial call on Lemieux happened when Antoine Roussel tried to put a shot on net as he was driving to the net. He lost his balance and met with Lemieux, who braced himself for the crash with his arm following through on what from every angle was a clean check with no head contact.
The puck slid up to the blueline then wound up behind Henrik Lundqvist, giving the Canucks a 3-0 lead at the time.
Following the goal, a five-minute match penalty and game misconduct were given to Lemieux, to the surprise of the player. As Lemieux was escorted to the locker room, the head coach was livid and was seen screaming at the four officials who congregated only to make the horrendous call.
The New York Rangers, who arguably lead the league in apologies and bogus calls against, travel to Calgary to take on the Flames Friday night.
