NHL suspends Islanders forward for sucker punch

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2006

NEW YORK (AFP) — New York Islanders forward Eric Godard was suspended two games without pay by the National Hockey League after sucker-punching Carolina's Justin Williams in a 4-1 road loss Friday night.

The first-period head-punching incident wiped out an Islanders power play with 11:14 elapsed in the first period. Williams had been whistled for interference but Godard was called for roughing as well as charging.

"I felt I kind of hurt the team there, taking that penalty," Godard said.

Godard, who scored his second career goal for the Islanders' only tally, was suspended for a Saturday rematch with Carolina and a Tuesday game against Nashville, losing 4,639 dollars in salary.

"The penalty was dumb," Islanders coach Steve Stirling said. "I told him I...