NHL trims Rangers forward Carcillo’s suspension to six games instead of 10

NEW YORK, N.Y. – New York Rangers forward Daniel Carcillo will be eligible to return for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final after the NHL trimmed his suspension to six games on Tuesday.

Carcillo had originally been assessed a 10-game ban under Rule 40.3 for deliberately applying physical force to an official. The incident occurred May 22 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final against the Montreal Canadiens.

Commissioner Gary Bettman, who heard Carcillo’s appeal at a hearing last Friday, ruled that Carcillo’s actions were more appropriately deemed a violation of Rule 40.4 for deliberately applying “physical force to an official for the sole purpose of getting free of such official during or immediately following an altercation.”

Bettman determined that a suspension of six games was the proper penalty for the re-classified infraction.

Carcillo has already served three games of the suspension.

Los Angeles will host the first two games in the best-of-seven series on Wednesday and Saturday. The series will shift to New York for Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on June 11.