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| | Friday, October 8 | |||||
| EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The NHL decided Friday not to
suspend New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur for a slashing
penalty that resulted in his ejection from Thursday's game against
the Pittsburgh Penguins.
NHL executive vice president Colin Campbell reviewed the incident Friday and made the decision. "The matter is closed," NHL spokesman Frank Brown said. Brodeur will be eligible to play Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brodeur was ejected in the first period of the Penguins' 7-5 win for whacking Pittsburgh forward Matthew Barnaby in the back of the knees with a two-hand swipe of his stick. Referee Paul Stewart gave the mild-mannered Brodeur, one of the NHL's top stickhandlers among goalies, a match penalty for intent to injure. The penalty does not carry an automatic suspension. Brodeur didn't deny he meant to hit Barnaby, but "not to injure him, that's for sure, and I don't think I did," the seven-year veteran said after being ejected for the first time in his career. Barnaby said the hit was painful, and added that Brodeur might have been frustrated after giving up three goals to Alexei Morozov.
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AUDIO/VIDEO   Brodeur gets thrown out after slashing Barnaby.avi: 828 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1  | |||||