The one-game banishment marks the first time the Calgary forward has been fined or suspended by the league
Andrew Mangipane’s one-game suspension will leave the Calgary Flames without a key forward when they attempt to win consecutive games for the first time this season at home Tuesday against the Nashville Predators.
The Flames are coming off Saturday night’s 6-3 road win over the Seattle Kraken, a clash in which Mangiapane was assessed a match penalty in the first period for cross-checking Jared McCann in the back of the neck while he was prone on the ice.
Mangiapane has never been suspended or fined during his 350-plus game NHL career and McCann returned to the game apparently without harm, which likely helped prevent the punishment from being more severe. Mangiapane leads the team with four goals and is second with seven points.
The Flames will be forced to juggle lines, but are carrying one extra forward in Dryden Hunt, while injured forward Adam Ruzicka is listed as day-to-day.
The Department of Player Safety’s video announcing the suspension said the league accepted Mangiapane’s defense he had no intent to drive McCann’s head into the ice, and pointed out he did not fully extend his arms or put all of his body weight into the cross-check.
“However, Mangiapane is in control throughout this sequence and makes the decision to deliver a reckless cross-check to a player laying vulnerable on the ice,” was stated during the video.
Mangiapane will be eligible to return when the Flames kick off a three-game trip Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He is the second Flames player suspended already this season, following Rasmus Andersson’s four-game penalty for a check to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine.