Wild forward Ryan Hartman will have an in-person hearing with the league’s Department of Player Safety after he was ejected from last night’s 6-0 loss to the Senators for intending to injure Ottawa star Tim Stützle, per an announcement from the organization Sunday. Hartman is now eligible to be suspended for more than five games.
The incident occurred with 16 seconds left on the clock in the second period. Hartman drove Stützle’s head into the ice following a defensive zone draw, causing the latter’s helmet to come off and creating a cut on his forehead (video link via Sportsnet).
Hartman was given a match penalty for roughing and intent to injure. The Senators scored three times on the ensuing five-minute major power play to begin the third period, including two assists from Stützle.
The pair found themselves on the box score earlier in the second period when Stützle was assessed a minor penalty for slashing Hartman. At the same time, the latter was assessed a double minor for roughing and embellishment. Hartman totaled 19 PIMs in the game, marking the second time he’s earned a match or misconduct penalty this season. The other occurred in a 6-1 home loss to the Panthers in December.
It’s been a disappointing campaign for the 30-year-old, who’s been bumped to bottom-six minutes with the emergence of Marco Rossi as Minnesota’s first-line center. His offensive pace has been harmed as a result, tied for ninth on the team in scoring with 17 points (7 G, 10 A) through 48 games. His 14:45 ATOI is his lowest usage since his first season in the State of Hockey in 2019-20, while his minus-eight rating ranks as the club’s lowest.
Nonetheless, a pending multi-game absence will be difficult to swallow for a Wild forward group that’s already missing top-six wingers Marcus Johansson and Kirill Kaprizov. Johansson remains without a timeline to return following a concussion over two weeks ago, while Kaprizov remains out until at least the end of the month following lower-body surgery.
5 games.
7 games