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Conor Geekie suspended for leaving the bench and joining a fight
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Conor Geekie suspended for leaving the bench and joining a fight

NHL Player Safety hands out its first suspension of the season.

Trevor Connors

NHL Player Safety has handed out its first suspension of the (pre)season, hitting Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Geekie with a one (pre)game suspension for "leaving the players’ bench on a legal line change for the purpose of starting an altercation."

From NHL Player Safety:


Geekie left the Lightning's bench "on a legal line change" and bee lines directly for Florida Panthers forward Josh Davies. While Geekie legally enters the playing surface, he completely ignores the play and immediately tries to engage in a fight with Davies. 

From NHL Player Safety:

"Rule 70.2: A player who has entered the game while play is in progress from his own players' bench... who starts an altercation, may be subject to discipline."


It's important to note that this is VERY different from the NHL's automatic 10 game suspension for players who jump off the bench illegally just to start an altercation.

Source: NHL Player Safety