Cogliano is suspended, ending streak
Andrew Cogliano’s ironman streak is over in the most surprising of ways.
The Ducks winger, a fourtime nominee for the NHL’s Bill Masterton Trophy for sportsmanship, was suspended Sunday for two games because of an illegal hit on Adrian Kempe during the team’s 4-2 victory over the Kings one day earlier.
Cogliano not only made contact with Kempe well after he passed the puck, but he delivered the check forcefully with his left shoulder planted into Kempe’s head.
The supplemental discipline brings Cogliano’s streak of 830 consecutive games played — the fourthlongest in NHL history — to a conclusion.
He’s eligible to return Friday for the Ducks’ rematch against the Kings.
It’s the first time in Cogliano’s career that he’s been suspended, and his clean history was taken into account during his hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.
“I was going to drive to the net and then I didn’t see it coming, so I was surprised,” said Kempe. “I’m glad I’m [OK]. I feel good today.
“Obviously it’s a big rivalry. Everyone wants to play physical. You expect that from some guys. Sometimes it happens.”
Kempe wasn’t injured on the play, and it resulted in a minor penalty for interference.
And now the Ducks will be short-handed again as they head into a Monday afternoon contest against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Ducks finally had their full complement of players Saturday (minus Patrick Eaves, who is battling Guillain Barre Syndrome).
The suspension comes in the first game after Cogliano was signed to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.25 million.
The 30-year-old is one of the team’s core players and has been since he was acquired in a summer 2011 deal with the Edmonton Oilers for a second-round draft pick.
Cogliano plays on the team’s second line and his ferocious forecheck and frenetic style of play create headaches for the opposing team.
He’s also one of the Ducks’ best penalty killers and his 14 short-handed goals since joining the club rank second in the NHL during that time.
Cogliano, who had never missed a game during his 11season NHL career, has 18 points in 44 games this season.
Brown is the newest Duck
J.T. Brown made waves when he raised his fist during the national anthem earlier this season, marking the first such protest by an NHL player against racial inequality and police brutality.
Now, he’s a member of the Ducks.
The team moved quickly to pick up the right winger on Sunday after the Tampa Bay Lightning waived him. To make room, the Ducks waived forward Logan Shaw, who posted eight points in 42 games with the club this season.
Brown, an African American, quickly ended his protest in October after receiving death threats, and the agitator’s play dropped off with one goal and three assists in 24 games.
“I understand that this issue cannot be resolved overnight, nor can I do it alone. I am done raising my fist during the national anthem,” Brown said in October.
TODAY
AT COLORADO When: noon PST. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Update: The Avalanche are coming off a victory after they topped the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Saturday. That was the latest of six consecutive wins, and along with the Calgary Flames, the Avalanche are the hottest team in the NHL. Colorado is one of those clubs packed in tight with the Ducks in the Western Conference playoff race at 49 points. The Avalanche are led by All-Star center Nathan MacKinnon, who’s already surpassed the 50point plateau with 19 goals and 34 assists. They’ve also been boosted by the play of backup goalie Jonathan Bernier, who is filling in for Semyon Varlamov. He’s won five straight games, and will likely earn the nod Monday against the club he played for last season. Bernier led the Avalanche to a 3-1 victory over the Ducks when the clubs met in October.