Hagelin Suspended Three Games For Elbowing Alfredsson
The New York Rangers will be without Carl Hagelin for the next three games. Hagelin was suspended by the NHL on Sunday for elbowing Daniel Alfredsson, the Captain of the Ottawa Senators, during the Rangers’ loss in the second game of the Eastern Conference series.
Hagelin was given a major penalty on Saturday night and was hoping to avoid any further punishment. The Ranger apologized for the incident but the NHL decided to put Hagelin on the bench for the next three games.
League disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said:
”After Alfredsson chips the puck up the boards, Hagelin continues on his path and finishes his check with his arms high, recklessly striking Alfredsson in the side of head with his elbow… This hit is a clear violation of what is defined by NHL rules as elbowing.”
The Rangers said that they accepted the suspension but they did say that the NHL has been inconsistent with their penalties recently. Last week, Shea Weber slammed another player’s head against the glass. Weber was fined $2500 for the play and was not suspended.
The Rangers said:
”The New York Rangers accept the NHL’s three-game suspension of Carl Hagelin and will not pursue an appeal… ‘However, we are thoroughly perplexed in the ruling’s inconsistency with other supplementary discipline decisions that have been made throughout this season and during the playoffs.”
The Senators lost a player on over the weekend as well. Defenseman Matt Carkner was suspended for one game after starting a one-sided fight against Brian Boyle. Carkner was ejected from the game 2 and will now spend game 3 on the bench.
The NHL said in a statement:
”Carkner instigated an altercation with New York forward Brian Boyle, who did not respond. After knocking Boyle to the ice with two punches, Carkner continued to throw punches at his opponent, who was an unwilling combatant. Carkner’s actions classified him as an ‘aggressor’ under NHL rules.”
The series is currently tied at 1-1. Do you think the Rangers will survive without Carl Hagelin?
