Antoine Vermette could be facing further discipline from the league after he was ejected for abuse of an official during Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.
The incident occurred in the third period immediately following a faceoff. Video replays show the 34-year-old Vermette taking a swipe at linesman Shandor Alphonso with his stick after losing a draw in the neutral zone.
There has already been a suspension for an abuse of an official infraction this season. Anthony DeAngelo of the Arizona Coyotes was banned three games -- without pay -- for an incident following a fight.
From the Orange County Register:
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said Vermette reacted to not being ready for Alphonso dropping the puck and that the veteran forward wasn’t vicious or had malice in striking him. But he added, “He touched the official. What are you going to do?”
“To me, these are things that the league reviews,” Carlyle continued. “We have a view on it; they have a view on it. Whatever they decide, we have to live with.”
The league’s rule book lists three categories for an automatic suspension in the event of an abuse of official penalty, adding that, following the game in which the game misconduct is given, it is up to the referee and linesman to determine the category of the infraction.
