Wild captain Jared Spurgeon has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for his cross-checking on Blues forward Pavel Buchneivhc during the Wild's 4-0 loss in Game 1.
Minnesota’s Jared Spurgeon has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Cross-checking St. Louis’ Pavel Buchnevich.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 3, 2022
It was a frustrating game for Spurgeon and Minnesota and it seemed to reach a boiling point in the final minutes of the game for Spurgeon, who cross-checked the back of the leg/ankle of Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich.
look at this TRASH pic.twitter.com/LB6qjXlMBi
— Tony X (@soIoucity) May 3, 2022
He was given two minutes for cross-checking during the game.
Blues coach Craig Berube did not have much to comment on the matter after the game. He said that he "didn't look at it," but he "will look at it later."
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Wild coach Dean Evason said the act from Spurgeon was a "bad penalty."
"We were frustrated last night," Evason said on Tuesday. "We took some bad penalties. That’s a bad penalty. He knows it. When Jared Spurgeon does something like that, it means your group is off kilter a little bit. So they’ll rein it back in and he’ll be the guy to do it.”
It was extremely out of character for Spurgeon. The Wild defenseman was a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2021, given to the "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."
There was certainly nothing gentlemanly about the cross-check by Spurgeon, but he avoids a suspension. The Wild need their captain in the lineup as they look to bounce back after an underwhelming performance in Game 1.
Jared Spurgeon fine details
Spurgeon must pay $5,000 for his cross-check on Buchnevuch.
It is the first time in his 12-year NHL career that he has been fined. He has also never been suspended.
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When is Game 2 of the Wild-Blues series?
The next game in the series is set to take place on Wednesday, May 4. Puck drop will be at 9:30 p.m. ET.
U.S. viewers can watch the game on ESPN while the Canadian audience can watch it on SN360.