Slash of Hornqvist gets Scandella $5,000 fine

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella was fined $5,000 by the NHL Wednesday for a two-handed slash on Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist.

The slash occurred during the second period of the Penguins 5-4 overtime win Tuesday night. The two were battling for position in front of the Sabres’ net, when Scandella nearly lost his balance after being shoved by Hornqvist. Scandella turned and, with two hands on his stick, chopped down on Hornqvist’s right ankle.

Scandella served a minor penalty for slashing, while Hornqvist was penalized for interference.

Scandella’s fine is the highest allowed under NHL rules.

Maple Leafs

Toronto forward Auston Matthews practiced Wednesday for the first time since an upper-body injury eight days earlier, and could be back in the lineup when the Maple Leafs play host Thursday night to the New Jersey Devils

Coach Mike Babcock said it would be a game-day decision whether the secondyear star plays. Matthews admitted he is not 100 percent.

“It’s always frustrating to miss games, it [stinks] watching,” Matthews said. “It feels boring when you can’t skate.”

Oilers

Edmonton acquired forward Michael Cammalleri in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings for forward Jussi Jokinen.

Cammalleri had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 15 games for Los Angeles, with two points in his past 10 games. Jokinen had one assist in 14 games for Edmonton.

Cammalleri, 35, has 620 points (290 goals, 330 assists) in 855 games with the Kings, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils.

He has a one-year contract worth $1 million, according CapFriendly.com.

Jokinen, 34, has 547 points (186 goals, 361 assists) in 905 games with the Oilers, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Penguins and Florida Panthers. He has a one-year contract worth $1.1 million.

Kings

Los Angeles veteran forward Jeff Carter is expected to be out until February after having surgery to repair a cut on the back of his left leg in mid-October, according to TSN Hockey analyst Aaron Ward.

Capitals

Washington defenseman Christian Djoos missed practice Wednesday because of an undisclosed “upperbody” injury he suffered in the game Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. He’s expected to miss the game Thursday against Colorado in Denver, with veteran Taylor Chorney likely to take his place in the lineup.

The injury is a hit to the Capitals, who just got defenseman Matt Niskanen back from a left hand injury that sidelined him for 13 games. Djoos, a rookie, has played in 16 gamestothis season, scoring two goals and one assist while averaging more than 14 minutes of ice time. He played just 5:48 against the Predators before being ruled out for the rest of the game. Thursday would mark the first game he has missed since his debut Oct. 11.