New York Islanders forward Anders Lee was fined $2,286.29 — the maximum — by the NHL’s department of player safety Tuesday for the controversial hit he delivered on St. Louis Blues defenceman Carl Gunnarsson.
Gunnarsson left Saturday’s 6-4 victory over the Islanders after taking Lee’s elbow to the face. The play was reviewed as an illegal elbow but no suspension was given:
Lee did not receive a penalty on the play, which irked Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock.
“I was asking about [the non-call] pretty much the whole night. We’ll find out what the decision is, but it was right on the button,” Hitchcock told reporters. “[Gunnarsson] is obviously in a little bit of trouble right now.”
Gunnarsson did not return to the game, nor did he play in Monday’s win over the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old blueliner has one goal and five points in 21 games this season, his first with St. Louis.
