Suspensions, fines handed down to Penguins, Islanders - 02-13-11

From the Post-Gazette's Dave Molinari:

The NHL has issued punishments for offenses committed during the Penguins' 9-3 loss to the New York Islanders Friday night at Nassau Coliseum.

Penguins winger Eric Godard received an automatic 10-game suspension for leaving the bench during an altercation, but league officials opted against enforcing a suspension against coach Dan Bylsma.

Because of Godard's offense, Rule 70.10 stipulated that Bylsma be suspended, pending a league review.

The rundown of sanctions assessed to the Islanders:

• Forward Trevor Gillies, who elbowed Eric Tangradi in the head, giving him a concussion, is suspended for nine games.

• Forward Matt Martin, who jumped forward Max Talbot from behind, was suspended for four games.

• A $100,000 fine for the team.

"The actions by the Islanders' Gillies and Martin were deliberate attempts to injure by delivering blows to the head of players who were unsuspecting and unable to defend themselves," said NHL vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell.

"The message should be clear to all players: targeting the head of an opponent by whatever means will be dealt with by suspension.

"With respect to the Godard suspension, there can be no circumstance that allows for a player to leave his bench for the purpose of coming to the aid of a teammate.

"The Islanders also must bear some responsibility for their failure to control their players."

EN Says: We're kind of shocked that Islanders forward Micheal Haley didn't get any sort of punishment for his antics, but the fact that the NHL dropped the hammer on the Islanders organization as a whole is what's important here. They held general manager Garth Snow and company responsible for this debacle.

And it's not like the Islanders have $100,000 just lying around. This is one of the most frugal (to be  nice) franchises in the NHL.

(Photo: Jim McIssac/Getty Images)