NHL fines Blue Jackets defenseman Savard $5K for slashing

By AP
Published

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard has been fined $5,000 by the NHL for slashing.

The league's department of player safety announced Monday that Savard was fined the maximum amount allowed for slashing Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck in the third period of Sunday's game in Columbus.

Video shows Savard coming down hard with his stick on Trocheck's hands in back of the Blue Jackets' goal cage. Trocheck recoiled in pain while teammate Connor Brickley shoved Savard. No penalty was called at the time. The Blue Jackets won the game 3-2 in a shootout.

NHL officials announced before the season that they would crack down on slashing because too many attempts to hack at the stick were resulting in serious injuries.

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