Nick Kypreos
SPORTSNET.CA
New York Islanders defenceman Brendan Witt has been suspended five games by the National Hockey League for an elbow on Toronto Maple Leaf Niklas Hagman Thursday, Sportsnet has confirmed.
Witt received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for clipping the Leafs forward at 2:21 of the third period. Hagman, who battled concussion problems last December, was helped off the ice and did not return.
Sportsnet has learned that Hagman saw a doctor on Friday and is considered day-to-day, however he will not play Saturday vs. the Ottawa Senators.
Leafs coach Ron Wilson refused to comment on the hit after the game, saying he did not see the play.
“I didn’t even see it. I guess (it was an) elbow to the head,” Wilson said. “He got a five-minute major and a game misconduct so the rest of it is up to the league.”
Sean Bergenheim scored a short-handed goal for the Islanders on the five-minute penalty for the hit, but Pavel Kubina later added a power-play goal for Toronto. The Leafs went onto win, 5-4, in a shootout.
Witt has been suspended once before by the National Hockey League, in 2006 as a member of the Nashville Predators. He served a one-game suspension for a collision with David Vyborny of the Blue Jackets that left the Columbus forward with a knee injury.
Hagman has provided the Leafs with some offensive spark since signing with the club as a free agent in the off-season. In 58 games with the Blue & White, Hagman has 19 goals and 18 assists.
