Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was taken aback after receiving a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding during Saturday’s 4-3 victory against the Ottawa Senators. Hughes delivered the hit to Senators centre Josh Norris with 7:31 remaining in the first period, resulting in Norris colliding with the boards and sustaining a cut to his face.
Per Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy, Hughes was surprised he was assessed a major penalty, saying he thought it was only going to be a two-minute minor.
Per NHL Rule 41.5, a boarding major can be assessed if a check causes a player to hit the boards violently or dangerously.
Referees ruled that Norris was in a vulnerable position, leading to the harsher penalty. Despite the hit, Norris remained in the game and later met with Hughes to discuss the incident. According to Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy, the two — who were college roommates — apologized to one another for how the play unfolded.
Hughes’ ejection left a noticeable void on the ice. Before his removal, he had logged 5:12 of ice time and was playing a vital role in the Canucks’ defensive and offensive systems. Hughes has been a cornerstone for Vancouver this season, leading the team with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) through 18 games. League-wide, he ranks among the NHL’s top-scoring defencemen, trailing only Cale Makar and Josh Morrissey.
The incident highlights a challenging return to form for Norris, who has tallied eight goals and five assists for 13 points in 19 games this season. The Michigan native missed significant time in 2023-24 due to shoulder surgery but has been a key contributor for Ottawa.
Norris, originally acquired by the Senators in the 2018 Erik Karlsson trade with the San Jose Sharks, has amassed 136 points in 202 career NHL games. His career-best season came in 2021-22 when he scored 35 goals and 55 points.
Despite the intensity of the play, both players appeared to handle the situation with mutual respect, reflecting their off-ice friendship. “Hughes and Norris are great friends,” Murphy noted. “Both guys were apologizing to each other postgame.”