NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman's suspension upon appeal but reduced the length from 10 games to eight on Monday. After Hartman drove Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle face-first into the ice during a game Feb.

Ryan Hartman was well aware of Gary Bettman’s track record and how rare it is for the NHL Commissioner to shorten suspensions. But that’s exactly what Bettman did Monday, trimming Hartman’s 10-game suspension for roughing Ottawa’s Tim Stützle to eight games to make the forward eligible to return next Tuesday at Seattle.

Ryan Hartman has caught a break from National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman. The Minnesota Wild forward appealed his 10-game suspension for an attack on Ottawa Senators centre Tim Stutzle, and Bettman announced Monday that it had been reduced to eight games.

Minnesota Wild's Ryan Hartman had his 10-game suspension for dangerous play reduced to eight games by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, sparking fan outrage. Bettman’s decision to reduce the penalty, despite Hartman's history of reckless behavior,