Kovalchuk suspended 1 game

I know I should feel something about this. Yet I am empty.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=228033&hubname=nhl

TORONTO - Ilya Kovalchuk's all-star break started one game early.

The Atlanta Thrashers star winger, second in the NHL with 37 goals, was
suspended one game by the league Wednesday. He was disciplined for his hit
from behind on New York Rangers defenceman Michal Rozsival late in the first
period of a 4-0 loss at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

Kovalchuk received a five-minute boarding penalty on the play as well as a
game misconduct. Rozsival's face smashed into the glass on the play but he
came back to play the rest of the game.

After the game Kovalchuk tried to explain the hit. "I just tried to finish
my check, and he kind of turned right before I tried to hit him," he said.

"He hit the boards; it wasn't my [intention] to hurt him or anything," added
the 24-year-old. "It's a contact sport. I wasn't trying to kill anybody."





Kovalchuk, who leads the Thrashers with 63 points (37-26) in 51 games, will
miss Thursday's return date at MSG against the Rangers. He will back in the
Thrashers lineup Jan. 30 against Pittsburgh. Kovalchuk is also slated to
appear in Sunday's NHL all-star game.


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