Penguins' Leopold leaves ice after elbow hit
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jordan Leopold lay on the ice for several minutes after being leveled by an elbow hit from Ottawa defenseman Andy Sutton late in the first period of their playoff game Friday night, but got up before being helped to the locker room.
Leopold was skating along the boards when Sutton upended him with a raised left elbow at 17:41, causing Leopold's helmet to fly off as he left his feet. Sutton's momentum carried him into one of the penalty boxes.
Several Penguins players immediately started shoving Sutton, but no fight resulted. Sutton was not penalized on the play, resulting in loud booing from the Mellon Arena crowd for several minutes.
After the period ended, Penguins forward Mike Rupp shoved Senators forward Zack Smith as Smith was entering a runway leading off the ice. Smith returned to the ice and fought briefly with Penguins forward Max Talbot.
After the period ended, the Penguins said Leopold would not return to the game.
Sutton, then with the Islanders, drew a two-game suspension for ramming Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis into the boards Jan. 19 in Pittsburgh. Dupuis missed one game with facial injuries.
