Rangers’ K’Andre Miller barred 3 games for spitting at Kings’ Doughty

K’Andre Miller of the New York Rangers has been suspended three games by the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct after spitting at L.A. Kings defenceman Drew Doughty.

Miller was given a match penalty and ejected late in the first period on Sunday, and the Rangers played the remainder of their 5-2 victory with five defencemen.

In a message posted on social media on Monday, he called his actions “completely accidental.”

“I would never intend to do something like that on purpose,” Miller wrote. “It goes against everything I am as a person and player. I felt awful about it.”

Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Miller will forfeit $15,000 US. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

He will miss games Wednesday at Philadelphia, Thursday against Ottawa and Saturday at Boston.

In 2019, Garnet Hathaway, then with Washington, was suspended three games in 2019 for spitting on Anaheim’s Erik Gudbranson.

Miller’s suspension complicates New York’s already murky roster situation ahead of Friday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline. The Rangers have been making roster moves to maximize salary cap space in advance of an anticipated trade for three-time Stanley Cup-winning Chicago winger Patrick Kane.

The 23-year-old Miller thanked Doughty for giving him the opportunity to apologize after Sunday’s game.

Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said he didn’t see the play when it happened and added Miller “feels bad about it.”

Doughty said he was caught off guard.

“I was just shocked, obviously,” Doughty said on Sunday. “I don’t even know if I said anything to him after. You don’t want to see things like that in this game. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that. I’m sure it has happened, not that I’ve seen. It’s unfortunate.

“Whether or not he meant to do it, I have no idea. It’s a pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty [miffed].”

The Rangers visit Philadelphia on Wednesday.