In last night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil was assessed a five minute major penalty and a game misconduct for elbowing Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has opted not to deliver any supplemental discipline to Pospisil for the hit.
The original call on the ice was a two-minute minor penalty for elbowing, but the officials reviewed the play after warranted complaints from Jets coach Rick Bowness.
Following the review, the call was upgraded to a major and a game misconduct.
Fortunately, neither player was injured, and Morrissey played the following shift.
Martin Pospisil has been here before
This marks the fourth time Pospisil has been ejected from a game this year, once in the preseason and three times in the regular season:
- September 27, 2023 against the Winnipeg Jets: match penalty against Cole Perfetti
- February 6, 2024 against the Boston Bruins: crosschecking on Brad Marchand
- March 4, 2024 against the Seattle Kraken: checking from behind on Vince Dunn
- April 4, 2024 against the Winnipeg Jets: elbowing on Josh Morrissey
All three ejections came about one month apart.
Pospisil did not face supplemental discipline on the first ejection on Marchand, but was assessed a three-game suspension for the check from behind on Dunn.
As this is his third offense of the season and he was suspended just one month ago, it looked like it was very possible that Pospisil would receive a hearing, and potential even more than three games this time around.
However, he looks to have escaped with just the major and misconduct on his record.
This is a rookie who plays on the edge, but still hasn’t fully figured out where the line is. This will be a key learning moment for Pospisil early in his NHL career.
