NEW YORK (AP) — K’Andre Miller of the New York Rangers says spitting at L.A. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was completely accidental.
Miller in a message posted on social media Monday said he would never intend to spit at an opponent on purpose.
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“It goes against everything I am as a person and player,” Miller wrote. “I felt awful about it.”
The 23-year-old also thanked Doughty for giving him the opportunity to apologize after the game. Miller was given a match penalty and ejected late in the first period, and the Rangers played the remainder of their 5-2 victory down to five defensemen.
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced Monday that it will hold a hearing with Miller to determine if there will be additional discipline. Garnet Hathaway, then with Washington, was suspended three games in 2019 for spitting on Anaheim’s Erik Gudbranson.
After the game Sunday, Rangers 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. “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 pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty (miffed).”
