Avalanche's Colton ejected for cross-checking Devils' Meier
Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton was ejected for cross-checking New Jersey Devils winger Timo Meier in the second period of Tuesday's contest, kicking off a fiery special-teams battle.
Colton was handed a major and a game misconduct on the play, and he also earned a minor penalty for boarding Devils rookie Luke Hughes earlier in the sequence. Hughes was slow to get up but ultimately got to his feet under his own power and returned to the contest later in the middle frame.
Here's a closer look at Colton's transgressions:
The Luke Hughes Boarding and Meier High Sticking Debacle. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/rnnL9EVhmp
- Devils Joint (@DevilsJointYT) November 8, 2023
After review, it's ruled that Colton took a minor for boarding Hughes... but he gets a 5 + misconduct for cross-checking Meier. pic.twitter.com/hcuk1cWnUR
- Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) November 8, 2023
Colton was initially assessed a major for boarding Hughes, but it was reduced to a minor after review.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar didn't agree with Colton's major penalty for cross-checking.
"Meier turns back to go at Colton and he's coming at him with his stick high," he said postgame, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "You've got to defend yourself, and your stick has got to come up unless you want to take one in the teeth. That's what he does. It's a reaction play to me. I didn't think that deserved a five."
The two teams exchanged blows during the Devils' ensuing seven-minute power play. Meier kicked things off with a revenge goal, which came on a five-on-three advantage since Colorado had a player in the box serving a penalty for too many men:
Timo gets one on the power play. pic.twitter.com/M2pWzoOqoO
- New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 8, 2023
Miles Wood made things interesting for the Avalanche by scoring a shorthanded goal a mere 41 seconds after Meier's tally:
Miles Wood responds instantly with a SHORTY, restoring Colorado's lead!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/JZ91wFzpHe
- Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) November 8, 2023
Devils forward Alexander Holtz took an interference penalty shortly after Wood's goal, so there were two minutes of four-on-four action, but Dougie Hamilton made sure New Jersey got the last word once his team was back on the man advantage:
Dougie Hamilton ties it up once more for New Jersey with a power play tally through traffic!#NJDevils pic.twitter.com/V3UOaWSKXG
- Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) November 8, 2023
The Avalanche successfully killed off the remainder of Colton's major penalty after Hamilton's goal.
At the end of the eventful sequence, the contest was tied 3-3. The Avalanche scored three times in the third to earn a 6-3 victory.
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