It didn't take the NHL long to rescind the game misconduct handed to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard, along with a five-minute boarding major after he pasted Ottawa Senators star forward Bobby Ryan to the end boards on Thursday night. According to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Post-Dispatch, the league informed the Blue Jackets on Friday that Savard's game misconduct had been vacated.
As Portzline notes, teams have 48 hours from the end of the game to request that the match penalty be lifted, but it sounds like the Jackets must have submitted their request for review almost immediately. Game officials are given tape of the incident and afforded the option to rescind.
Check out replay of the hit:
Ryan was injured on the play and remained down, but told reporters Friday morning that he was "a little sore" and otherwise fine.
Two misconducts, considered "physical fouls," within a 41-game period results in an automatic one-game suspension in the NHL. Savard goes back to a clean rap sheet now that the penalty was rescinded. Savard will also avoid the $200 fine - seems kind of pointless, right? - that usually comes with such penalties.
