After New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller received a match penalty and was ejected from Sunday’s game, he offered an explanation for the spitting incident.
Against the Los Angeles Kings, referees penalized Miller for spitting on Kings defender Drew Doughty. Any action that involves spitting is an automatic match penalty and Miller could be facing a lengthy suspension.
Miller took to Twitter on Monday to not only clear the air but share his story of events. Said Miller in a statement posted to Twitter, “I have all the respect in the world for Drew Doughty and what happened was completely accidental. I would never intend to do something like that on purpose, it goes against everything I am as a person and player. I felt awful about it and I am thankful Drew gave me the opportunity to apologize and explain myself in person after the game.”
Doughty allowed Miller the chance to apologize. But he was reportedly “shocked” by the spitting incident, according to ESPN.
“I don’t even know if I said anything to him after, but I just immediately went to the ref to try to get the penalty,” Doughty said. “But you don’t want to see things like that in this game, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that. I’m sure it has happened, but not that I’ve seen.
“It’s unfortunate, and whether or not he meant to do it, I have no idea. … I was pretty pissed.”
It’s unclear whether Miller apologized before or after Doughty met with reporters. But in any event, the 23-year-old defender will likely be facing a suspension regardless of his intent.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.