Earlier today, we found out that Eric Godard would be given an automatic 10-game suspension, as per the NHL rulebook, for leaving the bench during one of the Penguins/Islanders game's many brawls. The rule book also provides that the players' coach will be suspended a for a game as well, following a league review.
But the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dave Molinari is now reporting that that will not be the case, as Dan Bylsma appears to have avoided punishment:
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.
As for the Isles, Trevor Gillies was suspended for nine games, while Matt Martin was suspended for four. In addition, the team was fined $100,000.
NHL Vice President of Hockey Operations and Disciplinary Guru Colin Campbell explained the rulings:
"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."
The teams won't meet again until April 8, the second to last game of the season. With bad blood likely to linger, it'll be interesting to see how two teams with little to play for, for starkly different reasons, approach the game.
Now, with that out of the way, we can hopefully get back to the hockey season.