Anaheim Ducks center Antoine Vermette is facing the likely prospect of a 10-game suspension from the NHL for slashing a linesman.

Vermette slapped his stick against the back of linesman Shandor Alphonso’s legs after losing a faceoff to Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu during the Ducks’ 1-0 win Tuesday night.

Vermette had a disciplinary conference call with the league and the players’ union Wednesday, but the NHL didn’t issue an immediate confirmation of what’s expected to be an automatic 10-game suspension under league rules for applying physical force to an official without intent to injure.

After the game, Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said he thought Vermette hadn’t acted maliciously, but had been trying to get Alphonso’s attention after what he viewed as an unfair faceoff. Alphonso is a former OHL player in his first full season as an NHL linesman.

In another discipline-related move, Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist was suspended for six games without pay by the NHL on Wednesday for high-sticking Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon in the face.

On Sunday in Minnesota’s 6-3 home victory, Spurgeon knocked Nyquist to the ice, and Nyquist came up swinging, using the blade of his stick to spear Spurgeon just below his left eye. Nyquist was called for a double-minor for high-sticking. Spurgeon missed a few shifts while getting stitches in his cheek. The suspension will cost Nyquist $158,333.

Blue Jackets 5, Maple Leafs 2 — Nick Foligno and Boone Jenner each scored a goal, backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo made 31 saves, and host Columbus beat Toronto to move into a tie with Pittsburgh for second place in the Metropolitan Division two days before the Penguins visit Nationwide Arena.

Josh Anderson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Matt Calvert also scored for the Blue Jackets. Nazem Kadri scored both goals for the Maple Leafs.

Blues 2, Red Wings 0 — Carter Hutton made 25 saves for his second straight shutout and Ivan Barbashev scored 2:06 into the game, helping visiting St. Louis beat Detroit for its fifth straight win.

Detroit has dropped five straight games for the second time in less than a month, matching its season-long losing streak.

Barbashev, playing in his ninth NHL game, scored his second goal in four games and looked like a savvy veteran with lots of time and space afforded to him by lackluster defense. The Russian center skated with the puck along the left boards and into the middle of the circle without much resistance, then flicked a wrist shot that beat Petr Mrazek on his blocker side.