One of the top blueliners in the Motor City will have to pony up some cash for being a little careless with the stick.
The NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday announced that Detroit Red Wings’ defenseman Jake Walman will be fined $2,500 for high-sticking forward Jeff Skinner of the Buffalo Sabres.
The incident occurred late in the third period of Tuesday night’s matchup between the Atlantic Division foes when Walman caught Skinner up high with a cross-check while battling in front of Detroit’s net. Walman was handed a minor penalty on the play for high-sticking.
Buffalo failed to cash in on the power play, as captain Dylan Larkin’s shorthanded empty-net goal secured a 5-3 win for the Wings.
The money from the fine goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
This is the first time that Walman has received supplemental discipline in his NHL career. He hit a career-high in penalty minutes last season (45), and is on pace to break that this year, as Walman has 20 PIMs in 22 games.
It is the second time in a week that the Toronto native has been in the news. On Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens, Walman scored the game-winning goal in Detroit’s 5-4 overtime victory. The d-man promptly hit The Griddy celebration, something that has become a staple of his.
Walman has proved over his time in Motown that he can be effective on both ends of the ice. A top-four defender, he has tallied 12 points so far in 2023-24 and has the ability to eclipse his 18-point total from last year, the most he’s had in a single NHL season.
Following Tuesday night’s win, the Red Wings (14-7-3) have won their last three games, and are second in the Atlantic, six points back of the Boston Bruins.
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