Philadelphia forward Scott Hartnell has avoided suspension but will be $5,000 lighter after spearing Carolina’s Brett Bellemore on Sunday.
The NHL has fined Hartnell $5K -- half of the maximum $10,000 -- according to the Philadelphia Daily News. The punishment came after Hartnell was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for this, which occurred in the third period of the Flyers’ 6-5 shootout loss to the ‘Canes:
Hartnell wasn’t viewed as a repeat offender under the current CBA terms but did have a history with player discipline, getting suspended two games in 2008 for boarding then-Bruins defenseman Andrew Alberts.
Following Sunday’s game, Flyers head coach Craig Berube expressed disappointment in Hartnell’s actions.
“You have to keep your emotions in check and you can’t become a loose cannon out there,” Berube said, per CSN Philly. “You have to play the right way. You have to be intense, but you have to be smart.”
