The NHL rescinded the game misconduct penalty assessed to Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic.
Terry Gregson, who is the league's senior vice president of director and officiating, announced the move hours after the conclusion of Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
Lucic was bounced from the Stanley Cup rematch 3:54 into the first period after leaving the bench with the presumed intent to start an altercation. A video review revealed that Lucic did not leave the bench to join or start an altercation, rather he was about to step on the ice and elected to change course and join the scrum.
"The referees reacted to what they saw," Gregson said. "The only player they saw coming from the bench area from either team was Lucic. But with the benefit of replay, we can see that Lucic had previously entered the ice over the boards legally to join the play and actually was contemplating stepping back onto the bench through the door when the altercation ensued....
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