Earlier tonight, Steve Zipay of Blue Notes reported that the NHL has officially handed out a one game suspension to Dane Byers for instigating a fight with Trevor Glass late in the third period last night in Vancouver, in addition to a $2,590.67 fine. Tortorella automatically receives a fine of $10,000, also because of the instigator taken by Byers. Why it is like this? I do not know, and quite honestly, I do not agree with it, but that is the way it is.
Dane Byers on the Suspension: “was part of the game…emotions get the better of you. I thought I had given him enough time to get up, but he knew we were going. He had been running his mouth all along and it was 4-1.”
What really makes the suspension hard on Byers is the fact that he had family coming in to watch him play in tomorrow night's contest in Edmonton, Alberta. Unfortunately, the rough and tough winger is not allowed to dress, but can take part in practice.
Head Coach John Tortorella had no comment on the matter. Now you would expect for Shane O'Brien to also be suspended for coming down to the opposite bench just to spear Sean Avery with his stick. It is almost definite that O'Brien will be sentenced, but nothing has come of it just yet.
Tortorella did, however, say that both Marian Gaborik and Henrik Lundqvist were being treated for minor things, or as he put it, "maintenance". Torts also stated that he liked the way the Prospal-Dubinsky-Gaborik line played during certain stints of the Canuck game, so they will be reunited on Thursday. Also, the Higgins-Anisimov-Kotalik trio will be kept together after being concocted last night and producing for the coach. Torts did say that he wants Anisimov to receive more ice time, so moving him up to the third line would make sense.
All things considered, I would expect tomorrow's offensive lineup to look something like this:
Prospal - Dubinsky - Gaborik
Avery - Drury - Callahan
Higgins - Anisimov - Kotalik
Brashear/Lisin - Boyle - Voros
It is still unclear whether or not Enver Lisin (sore foot) or Donald Brashear (sore hand) will be in the forward rotation, but I am sure we will know sometime after the morning skate.
I would also expect Steve Valiquette to start in net against the Oilers, just as I predicted earlier in the week. Valiquette has not played since getting pulled back in October after allowing five goals to the San Jose Sharks.
While we’re waiting
3 hours ago
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1 comments:
I think it's a little interesting that the NHL's suspending people for instigating fights. Usually you get the game misconduct and that's the end of it.
I think it probably had something to do with the events earlier in the game. The NHL's probably trying to send a message to players and let them know that they have to maintain their discipline.
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