Blues forward given game misconduct following preseason fight

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Cooper Godin
September 27, 2023 (8:23)

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The preseason is the perfect time for players to leave an impression on their respective team's management and coaching staff in hopes of earning a spot on the opening night roster.

There's several ways that players can prove their worth and that they belong in the National Hockey League and one of those ways is by dropping the mitts.

When you're on a professional tryout contract (PTO) like St. Louis Blues forward Nick Ritchie, you have to do anything you can to earn an NHL deal and that's exactly what he did on Tuesday night.

But when trying to prove to the Blues that he deserves a contract for the 2023-24 season, he made a mistake that earned him a game misconduct, which ended his night early.

During the second period of Tuesday's game between the Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets, Ritchie dropped the mitts with Josh Dunne. Ritchie got the better of Dunne, landing several strong blows, but at the end of the tilt, his jersey and shoulder pads came completely off, revealing that he didn't tie down his fight strap. Because his fight strap was not tied down, not only did Ritchie receive a five-minute major for dropping the gloves, he was also handed a game misconduct.

It's fight night in St.Louis! #stlblues

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Stream: https://t.co/LonsQfC3WY pic.twitter.com/pvs5cVZGZ0� Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) September 27, 2023

Per the NHL's rule book, 46.13 states the following:

"A player who engages in a fight and whose jersey is not properly "tied-down" (jersey properly fastened to pants), and who loses his jersey (completely off of his torso) in that altercation, shall receive a game misconduct penalty."

It's safe to say that next time Nick Ritchie suits up for the St. Louis Blues this preseason, the first thing he'll do before hitting the ice is tying down his fight strap in order to avoid this situation again.