The NHL has fined San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane $5,000 for elbowing Washington Capitals defenceman Radko Gudas in the third period of Tuesday night’s game.
Kane was given a major penalty and a game misconduct in the wake of the incident.
With the Capitals up 5-2 at 5:01 in the third, Kane received a pass in front of Washington’s bench. Sensing a hit coming as Gudas approached from the Capitals’ zone, Kane appeared to connect with the head of the veteran D-man with his glove or the butt-end of his stick. Gudas crumpled to the ice and slid into the boards. He was seen labouring on the Capitals’ bench and being attended to by a team trainer.
The hit sparked a scrum between the Capitals and Sharks as Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin rushed Kane.
Capitals coach Todd Reirden had no immediate update on Gudas’s condition after the game.
Kane was suspended for the first three games of the season for abuse of an official after a run-in with Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Deryk Engelland during a pre-season game.
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