Arizona Coyotes forward Nick Ritchie will receive a hearing Saturday after slashing Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
The play occurred in Friday night’s game against the Ducks late in the first period. Ritchie and Shattenkirk were up against the boards and unpleasantries were exchanged between the two, before Dominik Simon stepped in to stick up for Shattenkirk. Ritchie received a penalty during the play for roughing Simon, but nothing for Shattenkirk.
Ritchie has been suspended just once up to this point in his career, receiving a two game suspension in 2017 for roughing at-the-time Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival. He missed the final game of the regular season, as well as the Ducks first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs that year.
Ritchie has turned around his season since joining the Coyotes after starting the season with just two goals and nine points in 33 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After getting dealt to the Coyotes he has eight goals and 10 points.
While his newfound production will be missed in Arizona, it won’t hurt too much at this point of the season. Arizona is well out of a playoff spot with a 21-42-5 record, which puts it last in their division by 11 points. Arizona's next two games are against the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, which Ritchie might miss if he gets suspended for a game or two.
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