The NHL have fined New Jersey Devils forward Evan Rodrigues the maximum $5,000 for high-sticking Vancouver Canucks forward Marco Rossi late in the second period of Saturday’s matinee match.

Following Nico Hischier’s second goal and the Devils’ third power play goal of the game, Rossi and Rodrigues lined up at centre ice for the faceoff. Both centres went early, with Rodrigues crossing the centre line, and Rossi pushed him back to his own side. In retaliation, Rodrigues used his stick to push Rossi back, but caught him in the neck/throat area.

The refs originally called it a major to review the play, then reduced the call to a double-minor for high-sticking. However, it looks like a spear to Rossi’s throat. Watch the play below and be the judge.

Because the penalty was called high-sticking and Rossi was deemed injured on the play, he was not allowed on the ice for the faceoff, even though he was not injured on the play. He was on the ice for the opening faceoff of the third period. The Canucks were not able to convert on the ensuing power play, and a Brock Boeser hooking penalty took the Canucks off the power play with 1:51 remaining in the man advantage.

This is Rodrigues’ second fine over his entire 12-year NHL career. He was fined $2,500 for tripping on November 13, 2021, but the referees did not assess a penalty on that play. In 620 career NHL games, Rodrigues has never been suspended.

The Devils traded Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist to the Panthers on June 30, 2026, in a move that sent former Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom and forward Angus Crookshank to Florida. The 33-year-old has been centring the Devils’ third line with Arseny Gritsyuk and Dawson Mercer. In his four games in New Jersey, Rodrigues is still searching for his first point as a Devil, averages 15:48 minutes per game, and has a minus-four rating.