NHL announced earlier this week that New York Rangers forward Brendan Lemieux will serve a two-game suspension once the 2019/20 NHL season resumes. This will rule out Brendan Lemieux from the start of Rangers’ best-of-five Stanley Cup Qualifiers series against Carolina Hurricanes.
Lemieux was suspended for an illegal check on Joonas Donskoi during the Rangers 3-2 loss to Colorado Avalanche on March 11. The 24-year-old player’s hit on Donskoi came after Avalanche forward got the shot off towards the goal and wasn’t looking.
The Department of Player Safety already held the hearing in Lemieux’s case in March but waited until now to make the decision official due to coronavirus pandemic break.
NY Rangers were already prepared to not have Brendan Lemieux on ice for the start of series against Hurricanes, but his absence still shouldn’t be taken lightly. Lemieux played 59 games with Rangers this season and contributed with 18 points (six goals and 12 assists).
Reportedly, Lemieux’s suspension will only apply to official games. He will still be able to take part in Rangers’ scrimmage game against New York Islanders on July 29th.
Rangers will play the first games of Carolina series on August 1st.
