Penguins/NHL
James Neal has been suspended for one game and Arron Asham has been suspended for four games, the NHL announced late tonight.
Neal has been suspended for his hit on Claude Giroux which was 42 seconds after his hit on Sean Couturier that he wasn’t suspended for but was also reviewed by the league.
Shanahan rules Neal leaped in the air and hits Giroux in the back of the head area. Shanahan claims the illegal hit was charging as NHL rules states and Neal being a repeat offender also played a part in the one game suspension.
Shanahan in explaining Asham’s suspension, indicates Asham’s stick never makes contact with Schenn’s face but Shanahan says the violent nature of the cross-check and punching a defenseless player is what led to a multi-game suspension.
However, Shanahan notes that Asham never being suspended or fined during his 13 year career was taking into account and Asham not being a repeat offender appears to have helped his cause.
For Game 4, the Penguins will be without Neal, Asham, Craig Adams and possibly Paul Martin.
