The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that New Jersey Devils defenceman Kurtis Gabriel is suspended for one game. This is his first career suspension.
New Jersey’s Kurtis Gabriel has been suspended for one game for Boarding Philadelphia’s Nolan Patrick. https://t.co/ywMWtAEeXm
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 2, 2019
Kurtis Gabriel Suspended
Kurtis Gabriel has been suspended for one game for boarding Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick in the first period of Friday night’s game. The blindside hit resulted in a scrum and Gabriel was given a five-minute major for boarding. Patrick got a measure of revenge by elbowing the big defenceman in the third period.
The Newmarket, Ontario native has scored two goals and one assist for three points in 14 games this season. He also added 44 penalty minutes in 2018-19. His possession numbers are 32.5 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of -12.9.
The 25-year-old has played for the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils in parts of three NHL seasons. He has put up two goals and two assists for four career points in 30 career games. Minnesota originally drafted him in the third round, 81st overall of the 2013 NHL Draft.
Gabriel has spent most of the season with the Binghamton Devils of the AHL. He played 32 games and has scored two goals and four assists for six points. He played most of last season with Iowa Wild when he was part of the Minnesota organization.
What This Means for the Future
Gabriel will also forfeit $3,494.62 under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, with the money going to to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Patrick’s retribution laid out Gabriel, who went into concussion protocol afterward. New Jersey coach John Hynes hoped that Patrick’s hit would be reviewed by the league.
The Devils are struggling through injuries that forced defenceman Egor Yakovlev to play forward. Losing Gabriel will tax a young and inexperienced defensive group that has struggled at times in front of whoever the Devils put in between the pipes.
LAVAL, QC, CANADA – OCTOBER 13: Michael McNiven #40 of the Laval Rocket alert for a shot with Kurtis Gabriel #39 of the Binghampton Devils ready for a rebound at Place Bell on October 13, 2018 in Laval, Quebec. (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images)
