New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - New York Rangers forward Daniel Carcillo's suspension was reduced from 10 games to six by the NHL on Tuesday, meaning he will be eligible to play in the Stanley Cup Finals against Los Angeles.
Carcillo received the ban for hitting linesman Scott Driscoll in the face with his forearm during a scrum in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Montreal.
He was given an automatic game misconduct and the league suspended him under rule 40.3, which bans the use of deliberate physical force against an official.
After hearing Carcillo's appeal, the NHL decided he more closely violated rule 40.4 banning "physical force to an official for the sole purpose of getting free of such official during or immediately following an altercation."
Driscoll had a hold of Carcillo's jersey with both hands.
The NHL said in a statement it will not tolerate abuse of its on-ice officials and that Rule 40 exists for their protection.
The Rangers beat the Canadiens in six games to reach the Cup Finals for the first time since winning their last title in 1994. The Kings will host Game 1 on Wednesday.
Carcillo has served three games of the suspension already and is eligible to return for Game 4 on June 11 in New York.
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