Ristolainen: Ejection for hit on Guentzel 'probably was the right call'

Rasmus Ristolainen didn't initially agree with the decision to toss him from Tuesday's game, but upon further review, he seems to have realized his mistake.

The Buffalo Sabres defenseman was given a five-minute interference major and a game misconduct for leveling Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel less than nine minutes into the contest.

"I tried to hit him. Obviously he didn’t get the puck so that’s unfortunate and too bad he got injured," Ristolainen told reporters Thursday, according to Amy Moritz of The Buffalo News.

"At the moment, I didn’t expect to get thrown out of the game but later on (I saw that) he obviously didn’t have the puck," Ristolainen said. "He didn’t get it. Our player broke the play and he got injured. So, I don’t know what are the rules but it probably was the right call. I’m not aware of the rules."

Guentzel was diagnosed with a concussion as a result of the hit, the intent on which Ristolainen reiterated was not malicious.

"(There was) no elbow because I turned my back and kind of hip-checked," he said. "I don’t know. Maybe he wasn’t ready for it. Like I said, I don’t want to hurt anyone. It’s too bad he got injured."

"I didn’t take any strides," he added. "I tried to give a little bit of time (for Guentzel to) be aware and when I was getting my eyes toward him I tried to look the puck, I tried to find the puck. It never got to him. I didn't see that. So it’s like a half a second there. Tough to react."

Ristolainen will have a hearing with the league's Department of Player Safety on Thursday afternoon, and he now finds himself in unfamiliar territory, having never been suspended.

"I haven't been in this position before," he said. "It's kind of new to me."

The 22-year-old blue-liner ranks fifth among all NHL skaters in ice time, averaging 26:42, leading the Sabres with 39 assists to go along with five goals in 74 games.

Guentzel had been clicking with Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary on the Penguins' top line, posting 11 goals and 25 points in 35 contests.