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Anaheim Ducks center Antoine Vermette is facing the likely prospect of a 10-game suspension from the NHL for slashing a linesman.
Vermette slapped his stick against the back of linesman Shandor Alphonso's legs after losing a faceoff to Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu during the third period of the Ducks' 1-0 win Tuesday night.
Vermette had a disciplinary conference call with the league and the players' union Wednesday, but the NHL didn't issue an immediate confirmation of what's expected to be an automatic 10-game suspension under league rules for applying physical force to an official without intent to injure.
The normally mild-mannered Vermette appeared to act out of frustration when Alphonso dropped the puck before the forward had put his stick in place on the ice.
The officials immediately stopped the game and assessed a game misconduct to Vermette, who has been among the NHL's best faceoff men this season. Vermette has won 62.4 percent of his 985 draws, the best percentage in the league among all players who regularly take faceoffs.
Vermette is allowed to appeal any suspension. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would hear the first appeal, followed by an independent arbitrator.
Vermette isn't known as much of a hothead, and he had been enjoying steady success in his first season with the Ducks, who signed the 34-year-old veteran to a two-year deal in August. Along with his remarkable faceoff proficiency, the 2015 Stanley Cup champion has contributed eight goals and 14 assists in 58 games.
After the game, Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said he thought Vermette hadn't acted maliciously, but had been trying to get Alphonso's attention after what he viewed as an unfair faceoff. Alphonso is a former OHL player in his first full season as an NHL linesman.
If Vermette immediately serves an entire 10-game suspension, he would be out until the Ducks have 14 games left in their regular season. He would be eligible to return for Anaheim's visit from the Washington Capitals on March 12.
Vermette's misbehavior is the latest instance of official abuse in the NHL, but not the most dramatic in recent history. Last season, Calgary defenseman Dennis Wideman managed to get his 20-game suspension reduced on appeal after he cross-checked linesman Don Henderson from behind.
Wideman was given an automatic 20-game suspension for deliberately attempting to injure an official, and Bettman upheld it before a neutral arbitrator decided Wideman's action hadn't been intentional and reduced the ban to 10 games.
Around the league
Penguins 4, Jets 3 (OT) • At Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby fed Chris Kunitz for a first-period goal against Winnipeg to become the 86th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, added an assist on Phil Kessel's game-tying goal in the third and then put the winner past Connor Hellebuyck with 21 seconds left in overtime as the Penguins escaped with a victory.
Islanders 4, Rangers 2 • At New York, Andrew Ladd scored twice to lead the Islanders to a victory over the crosstown-rival Rangers. Anders Lee and Nikolay Kulemin also scored, and Thomas Greiss stopped 25 shots to help the Islanders improve to 8-0-2 in their past 10 at home.
Sabres 2, Avalanche 0 • At Buffalo, N.Y., Sam Reinhart and Evander Kane scored, Robin Lehner made 23 saves and the Sabres beat Colorado.
Senators 3, Devils 0 • At Newark, N.J., Mike Condon made 21 saves in recording his fifth shutout of the season, Dion Phaneuf scored on a power play and Ottawa beat New Jersey. —
NHL standings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Montreal 58 31 19 8 70 165 150
Ottawa 55 30 19 6 66 148 146
Boston 58 29 23 6 64 157 155
Toronto 56 26 19 11 63 174 167
Florida 55 25 20 10 60 140 158
Buffalo 58 25 23 10 60 143 161
Tampa Bay 56 25 24 7 57 154 160
Detroit 57 22 25 10 54 141 171
Metropolitan GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Washington 56 39 11 6 84 192 121
Pittsburgh 56 36 13 7 79 201 158
Columbus 56 36 15 5 77 182 138
N.Y. Rangers 57 37 19 1 75 194 151
N.Y. Islanders 56 26 20 10 62 166 167
Philadelphia 57 27 23 7 61 148 171
New Jersey 57 24 23 10 58 131 162
Carolina 53 24 22 7 55 140 156
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Minnesota 56 37 13 6 80 187 130
Chicago 57 35 17 5 75 166 147
St. Louis 57 30 22 5 65 163 165
Nashville 56 27 21 8 62 158 151
Winnipeg 60 26 29 5 57 174 191
Dallas 58 22 26 10 54 160 187
Colorado 55 15 38 2 32 109 186
Pacific GP W L OT Pts GF GA
San Jose 58 34 18 6 74 161 141
Anaheim 58 30 18 10 70 152 147
Edmonton 57 30 19 8 68 162 148
Calgary 58 29 26 3 61 152 165
Los Angeles 55 28 23 4 60 138 136
Vancouver 57 25 26 6 56 135 164
Arizona 55 19 29 7 45 131 174
Thursday's games
N.Y. Islanders 4, N.Y. Rangers 2
Pittsburgh 4, Winnipeg 3, OT
Ottawa 3, New Jersey 0
Buffalo 2, Colorado 0
Vancouver at St. Louis, late
Dallas at Minnesota, late
Philadelphia at Edmonton, late
Arizona at Los Angeles, late
Friday's games
Pittsburgh at Columbus, 5 p.m.
Colorado at Carolina, 5:30 p.m.
Florida at Anaheim, 8 p.m.
—
ECHL standings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
North GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Manchester 50 29 12 5 4 67 195 167
Reading 49 29 17 1 2 61 184 144
Adirondack 48 26 14 4 4 60 177 153
Brampton 48 27 16 2 3 59 173 171
Wheeling 48 26 17 5 0 57 168 145
Elmira 49 9 33 6 1 25 108 193
South GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA
Florida 47 33 9 2 3 71 174 133
Greenville 50 27 18 4 1 59 164 166
Orlando 51 25 18 6 2 58 187 186
South Carolina 50 27 20 2 1 57 151 140
Cincinnati 50 23 23 4 0 50 141 150
Atlanta 49 18 24 6 1 43 165 192
Norfolk 49 18 27 4 0 40 134 177
Western Conference
Central GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA
Toledo 48 33 12 2 1 69 199 142
Fort Wayne 48 28 15 5 0 61 179 150
Quad City 49 29 18 0 2 60 157 148
Tulsa 53 24 24 5 0 53 151 163
Kalamazoo 49 24 21 1 3 52 138 161
Wichita 46 15 27 3 1 34 133 182
Indy 50 14 32 2 2 32 126 196
Mountain GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA
Allen 53 33 16 2 2 70 208 159
Colorado 50 32 14 1 3 68 185 146
Idaho 50 26 17 5 2 59 168 162
Alaska 47 25 15 1 6 57 152 147
Utah 49 25 20 3 1 54 158 164
Missouri 49 23 19 2 5 53 163 168
Rapid City 49 16 25 8 0 40 154 187
Thursday's games
Greenville 4, Manchester 3, OT
Orlando 4, Norfolk 2
Friday's games
Norfolk at Orlando, 5 p.m.
Reading at Elmira, 5:05 p.m.
Manchester at South Carolina, 5:05 p.m.
Brampton at Wheeling, 5:35 p.m.
Adirondack at Atlanta, 5:35 p.m.
Kalamazoo at Fort Wayne, 6 p.m.
Indy at Allen, 6:05 p.m.
Rapid City at Tulsa, 6:05 p.m.
Toledo at Wichita, 6:05 p.m.
Cincinnati at Quad City, 6:05 p.m.
Idaho at Utah, 7 p.m.
Colorado at Alaska, 9:15 p.m.