No Suspension, Rychel Hurting

Warren Rychel won’t get an NHL suspension for his game-misconduct penalty for joining a fight Thursday against the Kings, but he might not play against Phoenix today anyway.

“He hurt his hand, I guess, on Ray Ferraro’s head,” Coach Ron Wilson said after Rychel didn’t practice Friday.

Three game-misconduct penalties in a season can trigger an automatic one-game NHL suspension, but the Ducks got a rule clarification from the league Friday that Rychel won’t be suspended because game misconducts are separated into different categories, depending on whether they’re stick-related or for instigating a fight, for example. So while Rychel is walking a thin line--as is Peter LeBoutillier, who has two instigating penalties--neither is due a suspension.