TORONTO (AP) – Washington forward Donald Brashear was suspended for three games by the NHL on Thursday, stemming from a fight a day earlier between the Capitals and Atlanta Thrashers.
Brashear, teammate Brian Sutherby and Atlanta forward Scott Mellanby were automatically suspended one game while coaches Glen Hanlon of the Capitals and Bob Hartley of the Thrashers were fined $30,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Brashear was suspended for an additional two games under a rule that allows the commissioner to tack on additional games. He will be eligible to return Nov. 30 against Dallas.
With 1:22 left in the Thrashers’ 4-2 victory, Atlanta defenseman Andy Sutton was penalized for a hard check along the boards.
Three fights broke out simultaneously. Brashear went after Vitaly Vishnevski. The Thrashers’ defenseman resisted, but Brashear kept hitting him and blood eventually flowed. Jon Erskine went after Atlanta forward Marian Hossa while Matt Bradley fought Thrashers defenseman Greg de Vries.
On the next faceoff, Sutherby instigated a fight with Brad Larsen. On the ensuing faceoff, Mellanby provoked a fight with Jamie Heward.
The players’ suspension money goes to a players’ emergency assistance fund. The coaches’ fines go to the NHL Foundation.
AP-ES-11-23-06 1641EST
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