(New York) Los Angeles Kings forward Brendan Lemieux has been given a five-game suspension, without pay, for biting the Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk.
The National Hockey League Player Safety Department announced the decision Tuesday night.
The incident occurred at 13:51 of the third period of Saturday’s game as the Kings won 4-2 in Los Angeles.
It all started after a weak shot from the center of the ice from a Kings defenseman, which goaltender Filip Gustavsson grabbed on the fly before keeping the puck in his glove.
After the disc was immobilized, Tkachuk gave two double checks to the back of forward Blake Lizotte, who was a few feet from the Senators goaltender.
The two players continued to jostle each other as they made their way to the left corner of the ice rink, where several players from both clubs met.
Lemieux, who was behind Tkachuk, then grabbed the Senators captain. The two forwards started to bicker and Tkachuk ran into Lemieux.
As he got up after the incident and made his way to the penalty bench, Tkachuk showed officials his bloody right hand.
Both players received minor doubles for harshness, but Lemieux also received a game misconduct penalty.
The Department of Player Safety made its decision based solely on video footage in which Lemieux, on his back on the ice, bites his left hand that his opponent was passing in his face.
In rendering its decision, the Department of Player Safety also took into account the fact that Lemieux had been suspended on two occasions and fined since the start of his 194-game career in the league.
As a result of this suspension, Lemieux will have his salary cut off $ 38,750. The money will go to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.