The NHL’s player safety department has handed down one-game suspensions to Calgary Flames forward John Beecher and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley following separate roughing incidents. Beecher delivered a surprise punch to Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron, who was being held back by two linesmen during the first period of the Flames’ 4-3 defeat on Saturday. The altercation escalated after McCarron initiated a scuffle near the Flames’ bench by dropping his gloves and throwing punches at Beecher.
Beecher, aged 24, was penalized with a roughing minor and a 10-minute misconduct during the game. He later exited the match due to injury after engaging in a fight with Nashville’s Nic Hague in the second period. On the other hand, Stanley, aged 27, threw an ungloved punch at Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk during the second period of the Jets’ 4-2 loss on Saturday. Stanley received a roughing minor and an illegal equipment minor penalty, while Tkachuk, visibly upset by the incident, was handed a 10-minute misconduct penalty.
Both Beecher and Stanley, with 155 and 242 NHL games played respectively, had not faced any suspensions or fines in their careers prior to these incidents.