The Vancouver Canucks will be without their captain for the rest of tonight’s game.
Quinn Hughes was ejected from the team’s contest against the Ottawa Senators after being given a major penalty and game misconduct in the first period.
Hughes delivered a cross-check to Senators forward Josh Norris who was trying to corral the puck along the boards. Norris hit the boards face-first and went right down the tunnel to get checked on.
While the play didn’t look that malicious, the way Norris hit the boards and the fact he was bleeding made for a scary scene.
Josh Norris heads down the tunnel after receiving a check on the numbers from Quinn Hughes.
Quinn Hughes was given a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. pic.twitter.com/35jcED8ema
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 24, 2024
The major penalty assessed gave the Senators a five-minute power play. However, they failed to score and it was the Canucks who struck first later in the period.
While it was a scary incident, Norris returned to the bench before the power play had finished. He resumed playing in the first period.
While some were confused at the referee’s decision, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added context to the ruling.
“Per rule 41.5, a boarding major resulting ‘in an injury to the face or head of an opponent’ means an automatic game misconduct,” wrote the insider to social media platform X.
I didn’t think this was deserving of a game misconduct, but on-ice officials were adamant this was a major because Norris was cut on face.
And, as per rule 41.5, a boarding major resulting “in an injury to the face or head of an opponent” means an automatic game misconduct https://t.co/NGfqqqAvlc
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 24, 2024
The two players involved in the incident are close friends. Norris and Hughes have played together for various USA Hockey teams for years. They were also teammates in college at the University of Michigan.
Quinn Hughes and Josh Norris are close friends.
The Canucks captain has just been ejected for a dangerous play that sent Norris into the boards face-first.
The #LetsGoSens centre has returned to the game. pic.twitter.com/lajHxsMFYe
— Noah Strang (@noahstrang_) November 24, 2024
Losing a player as valuable as Hughes is a tough pill to swallow for any team but it hurts a little bit extra for the Canucks tonight who already have multiple big names out of the lineup.
Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, and Thatcher Demko are all sitting out tonight. Adding Hughes to that list means the team is without the majority of their top contributors.
The visitors still managed to hold a 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes due to a Jake DeBrusk goal on the power play. The marker was his fourth of the season thus far.