Friday's hockey: Canucks' Hoglander fined $2.8K for high-sticking Wings' Walman

Canucks forward Nils Hoglander was fined $2,864.58 for high-sticking Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman during Detroit's 4-1 loss on Thursday in Vancouver.

There was no penalty called on the play as Hoglander swung his stick into the side of Walman’s head as both players battled for position in front of Detroit’s net.

Even though the in-game referees didn't penalize Hoglander, the Department of Player Safety decided the incident warranted a punishment.

The fine was the maximum allowable according to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA.

Thursday’s game was particularly difficult for Walman, who finished with a minus-3 rating along with defensive partner Moritz Seider. Seider was minus-4 and Walman minus-2 in Tuesday's 8-4 loss in Edmonton.

The Red Wings and Canucks previously faced off on Feb. 10 at Little Caesars Arena with Walman scoring the game-winning goal on a penalty shot in overtime and celebrating with the “Griddy” dance move.

The Canucks responded to Walman's move on Thursday, with Nikita Zadorov commemorating a goal of his own with a similar dancing celebration.

Cleveland 4, Grand Rapids 3 (OT)

The Grand Rapids Griffins extended its point streak to 11 games with at least a point in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss against the Cleveland Monsters at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

Elmer Soderblom, Jonatan Berggren and Joel L'Esperance scored goals and goalie Sebastian Cossa made 23 saves for the Griffins.

It was the first time in Grand Rapids history that the team lost on a penalty shot in overtime. Trey Fix-Wolansky scored on a penalty shot on Cossa, who is 4-0-2 in his last six games.

Michigan 5, Penn State 3

Rutger McGroarty scored two goals, Gavin Brindley had one goal and two assists and T.J. Hughes added two assists in Michigan's 5-3 win against Penn State on Friday at Pegula Ice Arena in State College, Pa.

Josh Eernisse and Dylan Duke also scored and goalie Jake Barczewski stopped 22 shots.

Friday's NHL game

(At) Carolina 5, Arizona 1: Jordan Martinook scored 16 seconds into the game and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 30 shots for the Hurricanes, who won for the sixth time in eight games.

Dylan Guenther scored for Arizona and Karel Vejmelka gave up five goals on 23 shots before being replaced by Matt Villalta, who had two saves in his NHL debut.

In the playoff picture a month ago, the Coyotes have spiraled toward the bottom of the Central Division with eight straight losses. Arizona hasn't won since beating Pittsburgh 5-2 on Jan. 22.

Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium

Things seemed to be very relaxed as the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils took turns testing the ice on the recently installed rink at MetLife Stadium in preparation for two big games in the NHL's Stadium Series this weekend.

Instead of loosening up for the workouts, each of the teams skated onto the ice and gathered for team photos. The practices were a little different.

The Flyers, who had arrived after playing a game in Toronto on Thursday night, seemed to be stretching their legs and getting used to the ice a day before facing the Devils on Saturday night.

The Rangers and Devils, who played at home on Thursday, ran some full-speed drills although the Devils were on the ice about 20 minutes less than their Metropolitan Division rivals, who will play the Islanders on Sunday. The Islanders practiced on the surface on Thursday.

After each practice, many players got to skate with the families and children on the ice, something that rarely happens.

“You just never know where these games go,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “There’s a lot of things going around the players. It’s my job just to just get the team ready to play after they’re done with their families, just to get them ready to play. A very important game for us.”

Defenseman Jacob Trouba (University of Michigan) was asked about the organization being 4-0 in outdoor games and new coach Peter Laviolette sporting an 0-3-1 mark in the series.

"We need a new coach,” Trouba quipped. As he was leaving the news conference, Trouba asked everyone not to tell Laviolette, who was up next on the podium.

Prosecutors drop charge against Lucic

Prosecutors dropped a domestic violence charge against Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic on Friday, saying the decision by his wife to invoke marital privilege made it impossible for them to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Bruins said he will not return from his leave of absence this season.

“Milan Lucic will remain on indefinite leave from the organization for the remainder of the 2023-24 season," the team said in a statement. “The Boston Bruins organization supports Milan and his family as he continues his personal rehabilitation.”

After Lucic's wife opted not to testify, the motion by prosecutors to admit 911 call information into evidence was denied, effectively ending their court case, they said.

“This situation is something prosecutors encounter quite often in matters involving domestic violence charges. We handled this case exactly as we would any other presenting a similar set of circumstances," James Borghesani, chief of communications for Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, said in a statement.

Michigan-area hockey games this week

Friday

▶ Cleveland 4, Grand Rapids 3 (OT)

▶ Michigan 5, Penn State 3

Saturday

▶ Red Wings at Calgary, 4 (BSD/97.1)

▶ Grand Rapids at Rockford, 8 (AHL/96.1)

▶ NTDP U17s at Muskegon, 7:10

▶ Michigan at Penn State, 6 (Big Ten)

Sunday

▶ Muskegon at NTDP U18s, 4

Thursday

▶ Vancouver 4, Red Wings 1

Tuesday

▶ Oilers 8, Red Wings 4

▶ Cleveland 3, Grand Rapids 2 (SO)