Ottawa Senators forwards Nick Cousins and Hayden Hodgson both spent plenty of time in the penalty box on Tuesday. Now they’re getting hit in the wallet. 

Nick Cousins Fined $2,148.44 for Slashing

Cousins was assessed a minor penalty by referees Eric Furlatt and Pierre Lambert for a violent slash to the right arm of Montreal Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov.  The Habs winger left the game for medical attention and did not return.

 

 

“There’s no need for that,” said Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis. “It’s an exhibition game. Both teams are trying to get ready for a long season. I don’t think there’s any need for that in the game.”

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Demidov is not expected to miss any time.

The infraction occurred at 7:22 of the third period. 

 

Hayden Hodgson Fined $2,018.23 for Boarding

At 16:47 of the second period, Hodgson drilled Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook from behind, hitting him squarely in the numbers and driving him into the glass.  Hodgson was given a major penalty for boarding on the play; he also picked up a misconduct penalty as well as a roughing minor from the resulting scrum.

 

 

“It’s hard not to say there’s no bad intent there,” Newhook said. “If you look at the play, it felt like it was three seconds late. Backs turned to the boards, you see numbers. The guy’s talking a lot during the game, wanted to fight someone, and I think that’s kind of a cheap way to show who you are, and that’s all I’ll say about it.”

Newhook was able to remain in the game. 

 

Cousins and Hodgson combined for 31 penalty minutes on the night in a fight-filled game that saw a total of 150 PIMs handed out and five players ejected.  

The fines to Cousins and Hodgson are both the maximum allowable under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, based on their annual salary.  These are the first supplemental discipline rulings handed down this preseason by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

 

Referees for the game were Pierre Lambert (#25) and Eric Furlatt (#27) with Michel Cormier (#76) and Jonny Murray (#95) on the lines.