Fantilli baffled by unsportsmanlike penalty: 'Tried to be honest' with refs

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli was confused as to why he was handed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the second period of his team's 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

Stars defenseman Thomas Harley was sent to the box for high-sticking the Blue Jackets rookie, but Fantilli followed him to the sin bin after trying to clear the situation up with the referee, who thought he embellished the play.

"I said that (Harley's stick) didn't hit me in the face," Fantilli explained postgame, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "I played with a cage for a year (in college). The stick came up and came right past my face, and you could feel the wind. It shocks you for a second. Some people don't know how fast it really happens.

"It went right past my face and I reacted quickly. (The ref) called it and I tried to be honest. I didn't want to be that type of guy who looks like I was trying to sell calls or anything like that. The ref just hated it, I guess, and wanted to throw me in the box. So, nothing you can do."

The infraction was just the third penalty the 19-year-old Fantilli has taken in his young career.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was in a similar situation last season.

During a matchup against the New York Islanders in December, forward Mathew Barzal took a tripping penalty while defending Makar. However, the 2022 Norris Trophy winner informed referees that he'd fallen down on his own and that the penalty had been called incorrectly. After a brief meeting between the officials, the penalty on Barzal was waved off.

Fantilli has two goals and seven points in 13 games so far. The Blue Jackets selected him with the third overall pick in the 2023 draft.