WASHINGTON — Rangers forward Andre Deveaux has been suspended for three games for “recklessly targeting” the head of Panthers forward Tomas Fleischmann during the second period Wednesday night, according to NHL VP of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan.
The 26-year-old winger will sit out the first game of his sentence here Friday afternoon in the Rangers’ game against the Capitals.
Carl Hagelin, promoted yesterday from the AHL Whale, will take Deveaux’s spot on the wing; and center John Mitchell, also recalled yesterday, will replace healthy scratch Erik Christensen in the lineup.
Defenseman Anton Stralman, who made his season debut against the Panthers, was replaced by Jeff Woywitka.
Deveaux was suspended for the elbow that caught Fleischmann on the jaw at 10:59 of the second as the Florida winger cut across the neutral zone. Fleischmann returned to the game, won by the Panthers 2-1, soon after.
“As Fleischmann is about to go past him, Deveaux sticks out his left leg while at the same time flaring his left elbow,” Shanahan said. “Despite the fact that Deveaux conceded this was a dangerous reflex and instinct and [the NHL] agreed with his assertion there was no malicious intent, the recklessness [targeting the head] was evident due to the fact that Deveaux had to extend considerably to make such contact.”
The suspension was limited to three games because Deveaux has no prior history with NHL supplemental discipline and that there was no apparent injury as a result of the blow.
Deveaux played nine games with the Rangers, recording one assist, since his Oct. 30 promotion from the Whale.