Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann has been suspended for one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand. The incident occurred during the Maple Leafs' 2-0 win on December 8 at Scotiabank Arena. McMann received a match penalty at 3:00 of the third period.
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on December 9 that Toronto Maple Leafs center Bobby McMann has been suspended for one game without pay for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand. The infraction took place at 3:00 of the third period in NHL Game No. 461, during the Maple Leafs' 2-0 victory at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday, December 8.
McMann, 29, was assessed a match penalty on the play after chopping his stick down on Bjorkstrand, striking him in the shoulder area amid a third-period scrum. The scrum followed a knee-on-knee hit by Lightning forward Gage Goncalves on Maple Leafs defenseman Dakota Mermis, which left Mermis injured. Goncalves received a five-minute kneeing major and a 10-minute game misconduct, while Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua and Lightning defenseman Max Crozier were each given five-minute majors for fighting.
McMann, who has eight goals and six assists in 29 games this season, has never been suspended in the NHL. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, he will forfeit $7,031.25 of his average annual salary, with the money directed to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Leafs coach Craig Berube expressed disagreement with the match penalty after the game, stating, “From our view on the bench, I couldn’t really see it too well. I’ll take a look at it, but I had a tough time with that."
The Maple Leafs return to action on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Mermis is to be evaluated for his injury from the knee-on-knee hit.