Pettersson concussion confirmed, Panthers’ Matheson suspended
Florida defenceman gets 2-game ban for ‘unsportsmanlike’ slam
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks say rookie forward Elias Pettersson is in concussion protocol while centre Jay Beagle is out six weeks with a broken forearm.
Pettersson was injured when he was taken hard into the end boards and slammed to the ice by Florida defenceman Mike Matheson in the third period of Vancouver’s 3-2 win on Saturday. There was no penalty on the play.
The 19-year-old Swedish centre appeared woozy afterwards and needed assistance to get to the locker-room. He did not return to the game. After the game, Canucks head coach Travis Green called the hit “a dirty play.”
“We lost a bright young player to an injury that I don’t think was necessary,” Green told reporters Monday. “I’m pissed off right now still talking about it.”
The NHL suspended Matheson two games without pay for the hit after a hearing on Monday.
Beagle was injured in the same game after blocking a shot.
The loss of Pettersson for any significant length of time will be a blow to the rebuilding Canucks. The rising star has five goals and three assists in five games this season after being selected fifth overall by the Canucks in last year’s NHL draft.
Beagle, a veteran centre, signed a four-year contract worth an average US$3 million per season with the Canucks on July 1. He helped the Washington Capitals win their first Stanley Cup last season.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Matheson’s punishment for interference and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Matheson will forfeit US $52,419.36 in salary. He is eligible to return Saturday, when the Panthers host Detroit.
Penguins D Schultz out 4 months with fractured left leg
Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Justin Schultz of West Kelowna will miss the next four months because of a fractured left leg.
Schultz injured the leg in the first period of a shootout loss to Montreal on Saturday after getting tangled up with Tomas Plekanec. The team announced Monday that Schultz underwent surgery Sunday and will be out until February.
The 28-year-old Schultz has four assists in four games this season for Pittsburgh.
Sparks shines in net as Leafs down Kings 4-1
TORONTO — Garret Sparks made 33 saves in a surprise start and Kasperi Kapanen scored twice as the Toronto Maple Leafs stretched their winning streak to five games with a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.
Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner had the other goals for Toronto (6-1-0), while Auston Matthews and Jake Gardiner each added two assists.
Ilya Kovalchuk replied for Los Angeles (2-3-1). Jack Campbell stopped 21 shots for the Kings.
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock named Sparks as his starter ahead of No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen after the morning skate. Toronto later announced Andersen is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.