After Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil was ejected from Thursday night’s game for elbowing defenceman Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry called for the NHL to take action against the rookie.
“I think the Pospisil (hit) is in an entirely different category (of hits). He leaves his feet, drives up right into J-Mo’s head,” Lowry said Friday. “It’s his third major penalty in two months, so at some point, the league needs to do something.”
Pospisil’s hit came with 43 seconds remaining in the second period. He left his feet while going for an open-ice hit and got his elbow up near Morrissey’s head. It was initially called a two-minute minor for elbowing, but after a review, the referees upgraded the call to a five-minute major and game misconduct.
Morrissey was able to stay in the game following the hit.
The Flames forward has been called for three major penalties since the All-Star break, including a boarding call on Seattle Kraken defenceman Vince Dunn that resulted in a three-game suspension in early March.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has not yet announced a hearing for Pospisil following Thursday’s hit.
The 20-year-old has eight goals, 20 points and 97 penalty minutes in 56 games for Calgary.
The Flames and Jets are both back in action Saturday. Calgary will welcome the Edmonton Oilers for the final installment of this season’s Battle of Alberta on Hockey Night in Canada (10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT) on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Meanwhile, the Jets head to Minnesota to square off with the Wild (4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT).
