Senators' Fredrik Claesson suspended for two games for check on Bruins player
Fredrik Claesson got the book thrown at him by the National Hockey League on Thursday.
The Ottawa Senators' defenceman received a two-game suspension from the NHL's department of player safety for his hit to the head of Boston Bruins forward Noel Acciari during Wednesday's game at TD Garden in Boston.
The Bruins won that game 5-1.
Claesson, who was thrown out of the game, had never been previously suspended, but the league ruled he went after Acciari's head.
"Claesson makes Acciari's head the main point of contact on a hit where the head was avoidable," the league said in its video.
"This is an illegal check to the head.
"It's important to note Acciari is eligible to be checked on this play provided that the hit is delivered in a legal fashion.
Rather than delivering a full bodycheck that hits through the core of Acciari, Claesson takes a poor angle of approach, driving his shoulder pad into the head of Acciari with substantial force.
The main point of contact is the head.".
Claesson, who will forfeit $6,900 in salary that is donated to the Players' Assistance Fund, will miss home games against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday and the Bruins on Saturday.
He is eligible to return Wednesday night against the Red Wings in Detroit.
Coach Guy Boucher wasn't sure about the NHL's ruling before he spoke to reporters Thursday, but noted Claesson didn't have a past history of league discipline.
"I found over time whenever I said what I thought it doesn't make a difference, and, when you get 10 people in a room, you get five or six opinions," Boucher said.
"You'd think you would all have the same opinion, but I will leave that to the league.
"Claesson is a terrific person, a great kid, that's definitely not a guy who's looking to head hunt anybody.
That's clear. We know that.
The league is going to decide with all the precedents they have, the rules they're trying to enforce, and we'll live with it.".
The decision means defenceman Ben Harpur, a healthy scratch after being called up from Belleville on Wednesday, will play against the Blue Jackets.
CONDON TABBED FOR START.
The Senators will start goalie Mike Condon against the Blue Jackets.
Goalie Craig Anderson will be given the night off after a difficult outing in the 5-1 loss to the Bruins on Wednesday.
Asked if Condon would receive an opportunity to take the ball and run with it, Boucher noted he had already had that chance, but hadn't been able to grab it.
"He's had the chance and he's had some good games," Boucher said.
"The game in Florida (before the Christmas break) was a good game.
Definitely he's had some good moments, and Andy has some good moments, too.
"Definitely, they're like some of our other players.
They're part of the team where the consistency doesn't come from expectations.
You expect to be this, you expect to have that type of season, you don't have it and then you stay stuck on those types of expectations and then you drown.
"I'm not doing that: I'm not drowning, I'm swimming and the players have to swim.
The attitude, the work ethic and the discipline have to be there to deserve.
It goes for goalies, too … They're in it, I'm in it, the players are in it.".
PHANEUF SETTLING INTO NEW ROLE.
Dion Phaneuf missed the Senators two games in Florida last week, when wife Elisha Cuthbert-Phaneuf gave birth to the couple's daughter, Zaphire, in Ottawa.
To say Phaneuf was excited would be an understatement.
Elisha and Zaphire are both doing well.
"Everything is amazing.
Zaphire and Mom are doing very good," Phaneuf said.
"For me, it was the best day of my life.
It's something you can't explain until you go through it.
I'm just happy we've got a healthy baby daughter.".
Phaneuf said picking the name wasn't easy.
"We went through several like many do and we got down to a couple," he said.
"We narrowed it down to that.
We both have different names that are kind of special and we thought that Zaphire, by the time we went through all of them, that was the one that was her.
It's fun. It's special like her.".
THE LAST WORDS.
Senators centre Derick Brassard, who had a small injury issue against the Bruins, wasn't on the ice for Thursday's skate.
Boucher said Brassard would be fine and would play against the Blue Jackets … The Senators will have an open game-day skate Friday.
Doors will open at 9:45 a.m.
They usually do this during the Ottawa International Hockey Festival to allow some of the minor-hockey teams to attend … Boucher said defenceman Mark Borowiecki had resumed skating, but there was no timetable for his return.
Borowiecki is recovering from a concussion.
"We have to wait until the next day or the day after to see when he's back," Boucher said.
"We're crossing fingers that he's back sooner than later, but that's also part of what we need to be mentally tough about because there's important players that are missing.".
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