Panthers’ Lockwood suspended 3 games for goalie interference on Wild’s Marc-Andre Fleury

Florida Panthers forward Will Lockwood has been suspended three games for goaltender interference against the Minnesota Wild’s Marc-Andre Fleury in the first period of Florida’s 6-4 loss to Minnesota on Friday.

Lockwood made contact with Fleury behind the net at 2:13 into regulation while going for a puck behind the Minnesota net and made “high, forceful contact” with the goaltender, as explained by the NHL in its ruling. Fleury fell to the ice, and a slew of Wild players went toward Lockwood.

Lockwood was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for goaltender interference, and both Lockwood and Minnesota’s Zach Bogosian were given two minutes for roughing following the scrum.

Shortly after Lockwood returned to the ice following the penalty, he and Minnesota’s Brandon Duhaime fought in the Panthers’ offensive zone. Lockwood was injured during the fight and did not return to the game. Panthers coach Paul Maurice did not have an immediate update on Lockwood’s status postgame.

Fleury remained in the game until midway through the second period, at which point the Wild had a 4-1 lead. Filip Gustavsson replaced Fleury in the Wild’s net for the remainder of the game.

This is Lockwood’s first fine and suspension of his NHL career. The Panthers’ next three games are Monday at Nashville, Wednesday at home against Arizona and Friday at Pittsburgh.

Below is the full explanation for the suspension, as described by the NHL following the announcement Saturday evening:

“Friday night in Florida, Panthers forward William Lockwood was penalized for hitting Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, making high, forceful contact with his head and causing an injury. As the video shows, Fleury leaves his crease to handle a puck that has been dumped in behind his net as Lockwood races in with speed on the forecheck. As Fleury attempts to play the puck, Lockwood’s shoulder makes direct and significant contact with Fleury’s head, causing him to fall to the ice. This is goalie interference.

“It is important to note that while Lockwood argues that the contact on this play was not intentional, it is at the very least reckless. Due to his speed and angle of approach, Lockwood is squared up and leaning towards Fleury at contact and does not get his upper body against the boards until after contact is made. Lockwood is in control of this play at all times and chooses to forecheck with high speed and take an angle of approach that puts him on a direct path towards making forceful and direct contact with Fleury. The onus is on Lockwood to change his angle of approach, lower his speed or otherwise find a way to avoid or minimize a forceful head directly to the head of an opponent.”