![spit vs spat spit vs spat](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/star-and-the-forces-of-evil/images/a/a9/S2E39_Star_and_Marco_spit_into_their_bathroom_sinks.png)
The argument between Gratton and Stewart was their second exchange of the game. Gratton was given a two-minute penalty for roughing, a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, a 10-minute misconduct penalty and a game misconduct. Gratton then stepped into the bench area and down the hallway into the locker room. Stewart then appeared to yell at Gratton as he followed Gratton across the ice to the Lightning bench. The incident took place near the Lightning net. That's what Chris said and I believe him." "He was wearing a mouth guard and sometimes that makes it difficult to talk, but he absolutely did not spit on him.
![spit vs spat spit vs spat](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MhdM5HL-QHE/maxresdefault.jpg)
The only thing that could have possibly happened, he said, was that as he was yelling that it's possible saliva (sprayed) out as he was talking," Demers said. According to Demers, Gratton was "pushed by Stewart, and then there was a verbal exchange. Gratton attempted to intervene but was held back by Stewart. The incident supposedly occurred with 6.2 seconds remaining when a fight broke out between Tampa Bay's Darcy Tucker and Buffalo's Vaclav Varada.
![spit vs spat spit vs spat](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bpCDfbXM6NY/hqdefault.jpg)
According to the NHL rule book, no appeal of this particular rule can be made unless the suspension is longer than three games. Gratton, 23, could have been suspended for more than three games, but the league decided to give him the minimum punishment. Stewart ruled that Gratton's alleged spitting fell under the rule of "physically (demeaning) an Official." Any player who uses physical force against an official, without intent to injure, is suspended for at least 10 games. Should a player attempt to injure an official, he is suspended for at least 20 games. Category III of the rule states, in part, "Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an Official shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games." Nevertheless, Stewart's word is all that's needed to suspend Gratton under Rule 76 of the NHL rule book. Nobody saw it _ the linesman, other players, nobody. Chris denies it, but the referee said it happened. "There's nothing we can do about it," Lightning general manager and coach Jacques Demers said.