Perfetti: Hartman admitted to intentional high stick on mic

Ryan Hartman is caught red-handed.

The Minnesota Wild forward admitted to intentionally high-sticking Cole Perfetti in the face during Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, Perfetti said Tuesday.

Perfetti said he was mic'd-up during the contest, which picked up Hartman's admittance of guilt.

"I don't know if he realized that or not. ... To come out and blatantly say it into the mic, it worked out in our favor," Perfetti told reporters Tuesday, per Sportsnet.

The audio has yet to be made public, though.

Hartman was fined $4,427.08 on Tuesday - the maximum allowable under the CBA. However, in exchange for players agreeing to wear mics, none of the audio captured can be used in connection with disciplinary action, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek.

"He said it in kind of a respectful way," Perfetti said. "He said 'no disrespect, nothing against you, something had to happen for what happened to (Kirill) Kaprizov.'"

Perfetti added: "That's what he thought he needed to do to get back at us."

Here's a look at the high stick:

Cole Perfetti back on the ice for the Jets after taking a high stick to the face by Ryan Hartman off the faceoff during his first shift. pic.twitter.com/LgD6wmMtwo

- Dave Minuk (@ICdave) December 31, 2023

Kaprizov, Minnesota's star player, was injured in the first game of a back-to-back between the two clubs on Saturday and is out one-to-two weeks. Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon cross-checked Kaprizov multiple times during a battle in the corner.

Dillon wasn't happy after getting popped with a phenomenal reverse hit by Kaprizov https://t.co/mGvtc32MdW pic.twitter.com/L8FtIqkMEW

- Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) December 30, 2023

The two division rivals will meet again on Feb. 20 in Winnipeg.

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