Nhl Suspends Sabres’ Hasek

Buffalo Sabres All-Star goaltender Dominik Hasek was suspended three games by the National Hockey League for last week’s altercation with a reporter.

Hasek, a top candidate for the this year’s Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player, was also fined $10,000 by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Hasek physically and verbally attacked Jim Kelley of the Buffalo News following last Friday’s Game 5 loss to the Ottawa Senators in the team’s Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series. In a column, Kelley had questioned the severity of a knee injury that kept Hasek out of the past four games.

“There is no dispute that Mr. Hasek had physical contact with Mr. Kelley,” Bettman said. “Such contact between any NHL personnel coaches, players, league officials or team executives - and media personnel will not be tolerated. We want a clear message sent to the media who cover our games that they have a safe environment in which to work.”