Rangers' Kreider and Moore ejected after rough hits against a pair of Minnesota Wild players

NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider and defenceman John Moore were both ejected in the first half of a surprisingly rough game with the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.

Kreider received a major penalty for boarding defenceman Jonas Brodin late in the first period, and Moore was ejected midway through the second for a blatant hit to the head of forward Erik Haula that resulted in a match penalty.

Moore could be in line for a suspension from the NHL. The game was surprisingly rough considering these teams are in different conferences and meet only twice per season.

Kreider was behind Brodin as they chased a loose puck in the Wild end. Kreider used his arm to shove Brodin in the middle of the back as they got to the goal line and drove him into the end boards with 15.8 seconds left in the opening period.

Brodin hit the boards hard, and limped off to the tunnel after being down on the ice for a few moments. He was back on the bench in the second period.

Kreider was given a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct. That gave the Wild their third power play of the scoreless first period, with 4:45 of the advantage carrying over into the second.

The Rangers killed that off, keeping the Wild without a power-play goal this season, but Minnesota grabbed a 2-0 lead soon after with a pair of goals 55 seconds apart at even strength.

Less than a minute after the second goal, Moore drilled Haula in the side of the head between the two circles in the New York end. The Rangers killed that 5-minute power play, too, but again gave up an even-strength goal moments later to fall behind 3-0.

Earlier in the period, Wild forward Zach Parise was struck in the face by an errant stick from New York defenceman Marc Staal behind the Rangers net — in the same place in which Brodin was injured. Parise was bleeding while he was down on his knees and was then helped to the tunnel to the dressing room with a towel pressed to his face.

No penalty was called on that play.