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Kevin Fiala Suspended Three Games for Boarding Matt Roy

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Per an email sent from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety – Kevin Fiala has been suspended three games for his hit on Kings defenseman Matt Roy in Minnesota on Thursday night.

Minnesota Wild forward Kevin Fiala has been suspended for three games, without pay, for boarding Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Roy during NHL Game No. 118 in Minnesota on Thursday, Jan. 28, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 5:32 of the second period. Fiala was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Fiala will forfeit $77,586.21. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Immediately following the game, Kings coach Todd McLellan had this to say about the hit:

“You described it perfect,” said the Kings bench boss, when asked if the play was unnecessary. “It’ll be on multiple videos, teaching clips for young players, older players, junior players, pro players, on basically what not to do. I feel bad for Roy. I don’t even know if there’s any intent on on the Fiala thing, it just happened, But we have to know by now we can’t do that.”

Later, McLellan added a bit more about the emotion of the evening:

“My gut felt Like the rest of them. You take the Matt Roy hit, you know it was bad, but you look on the bench and you look at the replay and you’re going ‘Holy shit! That is bad. Is he okay?’ Finally, when he gets to the bench and he’s hauled off, you’re a little bit relieved, but you just don’t feel right after that. Then, obviously the Walks one, the same thing. There’s so many more people involved in injuries than just the player themselves and teammates. There’s families watching at home, there’s parents, girlfriends, wives, children. It’s a tough game and sometimes it doesn’t go your way and it’s really unfortunate that people have to experience that.”

His full postgame can be found here.

Drew Doughty added several comments of his own here.


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  1. While I’m glad Fiala got some supplementary discipline, I’m more concerned at this point about the prognoses for Walker and Roy. I take it as a good sign that both traveled home next day, but anything further than that? With Walker, I’m concerned about broken facial bones; Roy, concussion symptoms and perhaps neck injury as well. Both could keep those guys out for a while.

    Losing one of those guys, you could say that it opens a chance for Clague to get more ice time, and maybe Bjornfot gets his cup of coffee sooner rather than later. But both at the same time — I mean, both made real progress last season establishing themselves as NHL-grade players, both are at about the same point in their development curve, and both were supposed to be stalwarts this year.