Morrissey suspended one game for crosscheck on Staal

The NHL suspended Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey one game for a "reckless" crosscheck to Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal's neck in Tuesday night's Game 4 win over the Wild.

With about 1:20 left on a Minnesota power play late in the first period of a scoreless game, Morrissey crosschecked Staal above his shoulders while both were away from the puck, sending Staal to the ice in pain. No call was made on the play.

After the game, Morrissey called the hit "a complete accident."

"I watched the video afterwards, and we're battling in front of the net on the penalty kill, and I'm actually looking at the puck on the wall, trying to box him out," he said. "I would never try to do that. I was glad he was able to come back and play the rest of the game."

In a video explaining the decision on Wednesday, the league called Morrissey's hit a "reckless strike to an opponent's neck," noting that while Morrissey likely did not intend to injure, the hit was not simply the result of a routine box-out play.

Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters after the game that the no-call from the referees "cost" his team the game.

"The refs looked at it and they decided not to call it because we were already on the power play," said Boudreau, adding that Morrissey should have been kicked out of the contest. "It cost us the game."

Morrissey later assisted on the Jets' first goal near the end of the first period, and also broke up a clear scoring chance by Wild forward Nino Niederreiter in the second period. Winnipeg went on to win 2-0, with the final tally coming against an empty net with 11 seconds remaining, to take a 3-1 series lead.

"Nino has a breakaway, it's Morrissey that breaks it up; he should be out of the game," Boudreau said. "I'm still a little heated at it, but I have to watch what I say. They were looking right at it but they told us they didn't see it. You make up your minds."

Staal said officials apologized to him during the game for missing the play, but added it fell on deaf ears.

"I'm not looking for an apology," he said. "I'm in the middle of the game. Why would I want an apology? I'm the tallest guy on the ice. He cross-checked me in the neck. There's not much more you can say. Everyone saw it. I don't know how no one with stripes saw it."

Staal finished the game and logged 20:12 of ice time, his second-highest total of the series. He led Minnesota in points (76) and goals (42) this season.

The Wild have been playing without top players Zach Parise (fractured sternum) and Ryan Suter (ankle surgery).

Game 5 will be back in Winnipeg on Friday.

--Field Level Media