Doan's head hit draws 3-game suspension
In the sternest penalty handed down under the new rule against hits to the head, Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan was suspended Monday for three games for an illegal check against the Anaheim Ducks' Dan Sexton.
Doan had lost the puck in the offensive zone and Sexton had passed it to a teammate Sunday when Doan, in pursuit, gave him a shoulder to the head from the blind side. Such hits were outlawed late last season after blows to David Booth and Marc Savard left both with severe concussions.
Sexton took a spill Sunday but was not injured. No penalty was called on the play.
"While it was fortunate that Sexton did not suffer an injury, the message should be clear that this is the type of hit we want out of our game," said Colin Campbell, the NHL's executive vice president of hockey operations.
The NHL fined Ottawa Senators forward Nick Foligno $2,500 for an illegal check to the head of Carolina Hurricanes forward Patrick Dwyer.
Doan, who makes $4.55 million, will forfeit more than $73,000 in pay.
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson got a two-game suspension for a hit that left the Buffalo Sabres' Jason Pominville with a concussion, though that was more of a classic hit from behind.
Doan's third-period hit on Sexton was the second big one of the game by the physical winger. He took Cam Fowler hard into the boards behind the net after the Ducks rookie defenseman made an end-to-end rush, but that was a standard hockey check that looked worse because Fowler appeared to lose an edge and went face-first into the boards.
Fowler, 19, broke his nose, but he was expected to join the Ducks on their four-game trip and was considered probable for Wednesday's game at the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Doan will miss games against the Los Angeles Kings, Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens. He is eligible to return Oct. 26 at the Ottawa Senators.
Around the rinks: New York Rangers center Vinny Prospal had knee
surgery and will miss six to eight weeks. He had yet to play this
season. ... Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has been
cleared to resume practice and is expected to participate in at
least part of today's session. He passed out in the season opener,
hit his head on the ice and suffered a concussion. ... Tampa Bay
Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier missed Monday's game with a
right hand injury. He was hit on a knuckle by a shot during
Saturday's game. The captain is day-to-day and hopes to return
Thursday.
