The Washington Capitals lost forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel during the second period of Friday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, after he was assessed a match penalty for a hit to the head.
The incident occurred at the 1:56 mark of the middle frame, when Aube-Kubel came laterally across the ice and made contact with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Cal Foote (son of longtime NHL defenseman Adam Foote), who was trailing the play.
A 5-minute penalty is awarded to the @TBLightning after Cal Foote takes a dirty hit from Nicolas Aube-Kubel who has been ejected.@TBLightning | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/2nBPEcAttF
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) November 12, 2022
Upon further review and consultation with the league’s office in Toronto, Aube-Kubel was given a match penalty, which sent him to the dressing room early.
Aube-Kubel gets a match penalty for illegal check to the head. Hathaway and Maroon get five each for fighting plus 10-minute misconducts. Lightning to an all-you-can-eat 5-minute PP. #CapsBolts
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) November 12, 2022
The Lightning failed to score on the subsequent five-minute power play, which was preceded by a fight at center-ice by the Caps’ Garnet Hathaway and Tampa Bay’s Patrick Maroon.
Aube-Kubel has been previously fined by the NHL for a kneeing incident, and in 2018, during his time with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) of the American Hockey League, was suspended three games for an illegal check to the head.
In May 2021, during his time with the Flyers in a game against Washington, Aube-Kubel collided with current teammate Tom Wilson in a knee-on-knee incident.
That’s gonna be games, for sure.
Think it will be 3 games and a fine. Shame that the ref stepped in the middle of the Hathaway. Maroon fight as Hathaway had Maroon on his knees and was about ready to unload a nice punch to hic face. Going to be one big fight Sunday night!