NHL

Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras has been suspended three games without pay for a hit to the head of Detroit's Michael Rasmussen. The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced the suspension for interference Monday after holding a disciplinary hearing with Zegras. No penalty was called on the play. Rasmussen left with injury and was ruled out of Detroit's game Tuesday night at Minnesota. It is Zegras' first suspension since making his debut in the league in 2021. It will cost him $89,844 in salary.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld the suspension of Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman for slamming an opponent’s head to the ice. Bettman made the unusual decision to reduce the penalty from 10 games to the union-recommended eight after hearing Hartman’s in-person appeal. Hartman was punished for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle earlier this month. This is his fourth suspension in the last 22 months. Hartman contended he was using his arm to balance himself during a faceoff and did not intend to shove Stutzle down. Bettman said he believes the contact was intentional.

The New York Rangers have called up one of their top prospects just in case veteran Chris Kreider is unable to play Tuesday against the Islanders because of injury. The team announced Monday it recalled forward Brendan Othmann from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. Othmann was the Rangers' first-round pick in 2021 and has 20 points in 27 games in the minors this season. Kreider missed their game Sunday at Pittsburgh with an upper-body injury. New York also recalled Zac Jones from his AHL conditioning stint and sent fellow defenseman Matthew Robertson back to Hartford.