Canucks’ Quinn Hughes given game misconduct after boarding Senators’ Josh Norris

It was an early night for Quinn Hughes on Saturday as the Vancouver Canucks captain received a five-minute major and a game misconduct after boarding Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris.

Per Rule 41.5, Hughes was assessed with the infraction as a result of Norris being hit into the back and subsequently hitting his face into the board behind the Canucks’ net. Norris’ face was cut as a result of the play.

The incident occurred with 7:31 remaining in the first period. Hughes had accumulated 5:12 of ice time prior to his ejection. Norris did not leave the contest as the result of the cut he received.

A key piece for the Canucks, Hughes headlines the squad with 19 points counting four goals and 15 assists coming in 18 appearances this season. League wide, Hughes trails only Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets as the NHL’s highest scoring defenseman.

Hughes, 25, had a breakout campaign a year ago, reaching career highs in all major offensive categories, including 17 goals, 75 assists, and 92 points en route to Norris Trophy recognition as the NHL’s defenseman of the year.

The seventh-overall selection from the 2018 NHL Draft, Hughes has amassed 352 points counting 47 goals and 305 assists through 383 career contests and part of seven seasons with the Canucks.

For Norris, the 25-year-old pivot has had a productive start to the 2024-25 campaign, now with eight goals and five assists for 13 points through 19 appearances.

Norris missed the final 25 games of 2023-24 after undergoing shoulder surgery for the second time in as many seasons. In all, the Michigan native has accumulated 136 points through 202 career games, underscored by a career-high 55-point season coming with the Senators in 2021-22. The Senators originally acquired Norris in 2018 as part of the deal that sent former captain Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks.