NHL Fines Hurricanes Star Maximum Amount for High-Sticking

The NHL Department of Player Safety issued a $5,000 fine to Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis. The punishment represents the maximum allowable amount under the collective bargaining agreement for a high-sticking infraction against Columbus Blue Jackets winger Conor Garland.

The incident occurred during the third period of a game at Nationwide Arena. Jarvis caught Garland with his stick in a play that drew blood, resulting in a double minor penalty and forcing the Blue Jackets' forward to leave the ice for medical attention.

Garland exited the game bleeding profusely after the stick caught him in the face. The visual nature of the injury and the blood drawn made the play particularly egregious, prompting the league to issue supplemental discipline beyond the in-game penalty assessment.

Ending Clean Streak

Jarvis entered the contest riding a remarkable 41-game streak without taking a penalty. The Hurricanes forward had established himself among the cleanest players in the league, being one of the only active players with penalty-free streaks exceeding 30 games while averaging more than 15 minutes per night.

The clean record came to a crashing halt in spectacular fashion against Columbus. Jarvis shattered his disciplined approach with multiple infractions that swung momentum firmly in the Blue Jackets' direction.

Double Trouble

The Garland high stick represented the second double minor penalty Jarvis accumulated for stick infractions during the game. The Carolina forward had already been assessed four minutes for high-sticking Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski in the first period before repeating the offense against Garland.