NHL News: John Beecher Suspended For Post-Fight Sucker Punch

It's an unwritten rule—once the officials step in to break up a fight, it's over. But Calgary Flames' fourth-liner John Beecher overstepped that line Saturday night, throwing a sucker punch at Nashville Predators' forward Michael McCarron. NHL Player Safety has stepped in on Sunday and suspended Beecher for one game for his extracurricular activity.

John Beecher has been suspended for one game for roughing Nashville’s Michael McCarron. pic.twitter.com/LBuuMKBCNw
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 4, 2026

With everything seemingly under control, and the linesmen in between Beecher and McCarron, restraining them, the Flames' center suddenly reached over the top of the scrum and laid one on McCarron's jaw, knocking him down.

That prompted the NHL's Department of Player Safety to rule the incident as "Roughing" and hand down the suspension.

"It's important to note that whatever preceded this punch, Beecher's actions here are neither permitted nor excusable," the DoPS ruling continued. "The altercation had died down. Officials are between the players, and McCarron's arms are being restrained at his sides... (and he is) not able to defend himself."

But Beecher's price for that sucker punch will likely be more than the one game, however. Later, Nashville's Nic Hague took him to task for that earlier sucker punch, and in the ensuing scrap, Beecher got injured. He was holding his left arm in pain as he skated off the ice.

Man, Nic Hague let John Beecher have it for the cheap shot on Michael McCarron earlier. Beecher looked to be in considerable pain afterward.pic.twitter.com/DRp7kAjVpK
— Russell Vannozzi (@RussellV_MSP) January 4, 2026

Beecher has appeared in 19 games for the Flames this season in a fourth-line depth role, averaging 9:38 of ice time. He has two assists and 29 penalty minutes.

McCarron, a fourth-line center, has eight points in 40 games, with 111 hits and 54 minutes in penalties. He averages 14:22 of ice time per night.