League says: Simon sit
If Chris Simon plays again for the New York Islanders, or for anyone else in the NHL, it won’t be until next season.
And it might not even be on opening night.
The NHL hit back hard Sunday, suspending the rugged Islanders forward for a league-record 25 games. Simon will miss the rest of the regular season and playoffs as punishment for his two-handed stick attack to the face of Ryan Hollweg of the New York Rangers in a 2-1 loss Thursday night.
Simon will miss the Islanders’ final 15 regular-season contests and the entire postseason, if the club gets that far. If the team plays fewer than 10 playoff games this year, the suspension will carry over to next season.
“I think what he got was pretty much expected around the league and by everybody else,” Hollweg said Sunday after the Rangers’ 2-1 win over Carolina. “What’s done is done. The league has made its decision and it’s time to move forward now. I think it’s fair.”
The ban is the longest in terms of games missed in NHL history. Marty McSorley was suspended 23 games in February 2000 for knocking out Donald Brashear with a stick-swinging hit. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stretched that punishment to one year, and McSorley never played in the league again.
Simon’s one-year deal with the Islanders will run out before he is eligible to play again. He can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Based on Simon’s $1 million contract, he will lose at least $80,200 because of the suspension.
Union leader placed on paid leave
NHL Players’ Association executive director Ted Saskin and senior director Ken Kim, accused of monitoring player e-mails, were placed on paid leaves following a vote by the 30 players representatives.
The players also voted to seek independent counsel to help guide them through an internal review.
The e-mail system the players use is administered by the union.
Around the crease
Colorado Avalanche rookie Paul Stastny assisted on a first-period goal, giving him a point in his 18th consecutive game and setting the NHL record for the longest point streak by a rookie. Stastny broke the mark of 17 straight set by Winnipeg’s Teemu Selanne in 1993. … St. Louis Blues defenseman Bryce Salvador has a fractured left collar bone and will be sidelined the remainder of the season. … Mike Peca skated for the first time since breaking a leg Dec. 22 and said he’d be ready to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs no later than the first round of the NHL playoffs.
On the ice
Bruins 6, Red Wings 3: At Detroit, Marco Sturm had two goals and an assist to lift Boston over Detroit.
Chuck Kobasew added a goal and an assist for Boston. Marc Savard added three assists, and Tim Thomas made 35 saves.
Rangers 2, Hurricanes 1: At New York, Jaromir Jagr shook off a sore hip, setting up Marek Malik’s first goal in 75 games and then scoring in the shootout to lift New York to a victory over Carolina.
Matt Cullen also scored in the shootout against Hurricanes backup John Grahame.
Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (OT): At St. Paul, Minn., Brent Burns’ rebound goal with 18.9 seconds left in overtime lifted Minnesota to a win over Colorado.
Mikko Koivu scored two goals and Niklas Backstrom made 21 saves for the Wild.
Stars 4, Kings 3 (OT): At Dallas, Mike Modano scored his 499th career goal 35 seconds into overtime and Dallas edged out Los Angeles.
Modano scored his 14th of the season and third in five games on a quick shot from the high slot.
Sharks 3, Oilers 0: At San Jose, Calif., Evgeni Nabokov made 22 saves in his third shutout in four games, and San Jose defeated Edmonton.
Steve Bernier scored an early goal, and Kyle McLaren added another with 3:52 left for the Sharks.
Ducks 4, Canucks 2: At Anaheim, Calif., Teemu Selanne scored two goals and had an assist to lead Anaheim to a victory over Vancouver.
The two-goal game by the 36-year-old Selanne gives him 41, making him the first player in NHL history 35 or older to record consecutive seasons with 40 or more goals.