Wild’s Ryan Hartman suspended one game for interference on Nikolaj Ehlers

Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman has been suspended one game by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for interference against Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

The incident occurred around the eight-minute mark of the third period after Ehlers took a run at Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov; Hartman did not like that hit and took exception, blowing Ehlers up at center ice like a piñata. Ehlers was down and in discomfort before making his way to the bench; meanwhile, the Jets went to action, and a scrum ensued, with Vladislav Namestnikov being one of the first players involved in sticking up for his teammate. Hartman was assessed a 2-minute minor for interference, and Namestnikov was handed 2 minutes for roughing. 

It didn’t end there; this was a game that had a lot of implications for the Jets, they needed one point to clinch the playoffs, and emotions were running high. With around 40 seconds left in the third period, Jets defenseman Neal Pionk was handed a five-minute major for cross-checking Marcus Johansson who was injured on the play. That incident was also followed by a scrum, which eventually led to a spirited scrap between Adam Lowry and Ryan Reaves. Hartman also answered the bell for his hit on Ehlers; he would fight Brendan Dillon. All in all, the game featured 51 penalty minutes. 

This is not Hartman’s first trip to the principal’s office either. Last season he was fined $4,250 for unsportsmanlike conduct after throwing up his middle finger following a fight with Oilers forward Evander Kane. One month ago, Hartman was fined the maximum allowable under the CBA for slashing Flames’ defenseman Rasmus Andersson.