Kings’ Brown escapes suspension for illegal hit

New York (AFP) – Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown escaped a suspension Friday but was slapped with a $10,000 fine by the NHL’s disciplinary officials for crosschecking Pittsburgh’s Justin Schultz into the sideboards.

Brown was ejected from Thursday’s game between the Kings and the Penguins and given a major penalty for the hit at 6:36 of the third period.

Brown’s penalty proved costly for the Kings as it resulted in a power play for Pittsburgh, which used the man advantage to score a goal and go on to win the contest 3-1.

Schultz, of Canada, was on his knees with his back to Brown when the Kings forward raised his stick and slammed Schultz face-first into the side boards. 

Schultz went to the locker room to receive medical attention but was not seriously hurt.

“We’re really thrilled that Schultzy, it seems like he’s going to be OK,” said Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan.

Many felt Brown’s hit was worthy of a suspension because of his reputation of being a dirty player and for being a repeat offender. 

At the 2008 World Championships, Brown, of the US, delivered a controversial hit to the head of Finland’s Jussi Jokinen.

He was suspended for two games in 2013 for an elbow to the head of Minnesota Wild forward Jason Pominville. 

One of his most infamous hits took place in the 2012 NHL playoffs when he blindsided Phoenix Coyotes Michal Rozsival with a knee-on-knee hit just inside the Kings’ blue line.

The NHL’s only other fine announced Friday also involved Brown. Penguins star Evgeni Malkin was fined $5,000 for spearing Brown in the first period of the same contest.