Islanders' Jonathan Drouin knew his cross check looked bad
Jonathan Drouin #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 9, 2025. Credit: Getty Images/Justin Berl
Jonathan Drouin knew right away he might be at risk for supplemental discipline from the NHL.
The top-six wing served a one-game suspension, missing the Islanders’ home opener against the Capitals on Saturday night at UBS Arena, after the league announced on Friday his punishment for cross checking the Penguins’ Connor Dewar in the face.
“I was standing by the net waiting for a rebound and he gave me a cross check,” Drouin said. “I gave him a little jab. He gave me another one. I didn’t really try to cross check the way it looks bad. I didn’t try to get him in the face. My stick rises up. As soon as I got him, I was like, ‘Oh, not a good look. Not a good spot to hit someone.’ Unfortunate that I got him there.”
Drouin, signed to a two-year, $8 million deal, earned a five-minute major for cross checking and a game misconduct with 14.2 seconds left in the Islanders’ season-opening 4-3 loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Drouin, who scored a goal in his Islanders’ debut, had on-going battles throughout the game with several Penguins, including defenseman Parker Wotherspoon.
“There’s a couple of incidents before,” Drouin said. “But it’s part of the game. Get the one game and move on from there.”
Coach Patrick Roy elevated Anthony Duclair to Drouin’s spot on Bo Horvat’s left wing along with Emil Heineman while inserting Marc Gatcomb onto Casey Cizikas’ fourth line with Max Tsyplakov after he was a healthy scratch against the Penguins.
“Just picking up where I left off,” said Gatcomb, who had eight goals and one assist in 39 games last season as a rookie. “Doing the things that found me success.”
Notes & quotes: Rookie center Cal Ritchie (upper body) rejoined his teammates for the morning skate, though there’s no timetable for his game availability . . . Defenseman Adam Boqvist and Kyle MacLean remained healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
