Anthony Mantha has given Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe a suspension worry after a boarding major sparked a heated scrum against the Ottawa Senators.
Mantha was assessed a 5-minute major after driving an Ottawa player into the boards. Players from both clubs immediately rushed toward the contact.
The game was still 0-0 in the first period, but attention abruptly shifted from puck possession to the confrontation along the wall.
Ottawa skaters went straight toward Mantha as Devils players closed in. Officials moved between the groups as tempers flared.
The NHL has not announced a suspension or disciplinary hearing. Mantha is facing the possibility of further punishment, not a confirmed ban.
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Any review would focus on the point of contact, the opponent's position and whether Mantha had time to avoid delivering the check.
Keefe's immediate concern was the extended shorthanded stretch. A major penalty forces the bench to juggle defensive assignments while Ottawa controls the power play.
Anthony Mantha's hit could cost the Devils more
The scene beside the boards tells the story: red and white jerseys bunch together, sticks rise, and an official wedges between the players.
The confrontation can be watched here:
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Ottawa's reaction showed how strongly the Senators objected. Their response intensified the moment without settling the disciplinary question.
The size of the scrum won't determine a suspension. The league would assess the hit itself, including the danger of contact along the boards.
If Mantha misses games, Keefe must adjust his winger rotation and decide who receives the vacant minutes. An on-ice mistake becomes a lineup issue.
Even if the major is the final punishment, the incident could affect Mantha's usage. Coaches want forwards they can trust in tight games.
Mantha's physical approach can help New Jersey win battles along the walls. But that pressure loses value when an opponent receives an extended man advantage.
Now the Devils await clarity on whether the NHL takes another step. Mantha's availability hangs over a team already dealing with an early-season disruption.
Should Anthony Mantha be suspended for the ugly boarding hit that sparked the Senators scrum?
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