‘”It is important to note that this isn’t the case of a stick riding up unintentionally as players battle for position in front of net or come together naturally during the course of play,” George Parros, director of the NHL’s department of player safety, said in a video explaining the ruling. “Skinner initiates an altercation here that ends with him aggressively and purposefully striking an opponent in the face with his stick with sufficient force to merit supplemental discipline.”‘