San Jose Sharks tough guy John Scott has been suspended two games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for leaving the players’ bench on a legal line change to start an altercation.
The incident occurred Sunday night during the Sharks’ 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
The Department of Player Safety cited Rule 70.2 in Scott’s suspension, which states, “A player who has entered the game on a legal line change or legally from the penalty bench (penalty time has expired) who starts an altercation maybe subject to discipline in accordance with Rule 28 – Supplementary Discipline.”
Scott’s suspension is the first under new Senior Vice President of Player Safety, Stephane Quintal.
In the video outlining the reasoning for the suspension, Patrick Burke says during the Monday hearing, Scott admitted his intent when coming off the bench was to challenge Tim Jackman.
Scott will forfeit $17,073.18 in salary and miss San Jose’s games Tuesday in Colorado and Thursday in Minnesota. Scott broke into the NHL with the Wild during the 2008-09 season.
Two seasons ago, while with the Sharks, Ryane Clowe was suspended two games for a similar incident.
