Five-game ban levied on Laraque
Dirty hit sidelined Wings' Kronwall for 4-8 weeks
Tuesday, 11.24.2009 / 8:36 AM
/ News
NHL.com
The National Hockey League announced on Monday night that Montreal Canadiens forward Georges Laraque has been suspended for five games without pay, and will forfeit $38,860.10 in salary for an incident that took place during a game against the Red Wings last Saturday.
At 8:52 of the first period, Laraque was involved in an incident where he deliberately extended his knee and, through his actions, caused an injury to Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall. Laraque was assessed a minor penalty for tripping on the play.
"Mr. Laraque's actions were dangerous and caused a significant injury to his opponent," said Colin Campbell, the NHL's senior executive vice president of hockey operations.
Laraque will miss Montreal's next five games – Nov. 24 against Columbus; Nov. 25 at Pittsburgh; Nov. 28 against Washington, Dec. 1 against Toronto and Dec. 3 at Buffalo. He will be eligible to return on Dec. 4 against the Boston Bruins.
Kronwall is expected to miss anywhere between four and eight weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee.
At 8:52 of the first period, Laraque was involved in an incident where he deliberately extended his knee and, through his actions, caused an injury to Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall. Laraque was assessed a minor penalty for tripping on the play.
"Mr. Laraque's actions were dangerous and caused a significant injury to his opponent," said Colin Campbell, the NHL's senior executive vice president of hockey operations.
Laraque will miss Montreal's next five games – Nov. 24 against Columbus; Nov. 25 at Pittsburgh; Nov. 28 against Washington, Dec. 1 against Toronto and Dec. 3 at Buffalo. He will be eligible to return on Dec. 4 against the Boston Bruins.
Kronwall is expected to miss anywhere between four and eight weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee.
