The National Hockey League slapped Toronto star Phil Kessel with a three-game suspension Tuesday in the aftermath of the Toronto-Buffalo line brawl two days earlier.
The 25-year-old American will miss all three of the Leafs' remaining pre-season games but will be eligible to return for the regular season.
The suspension came a day after Leafs' tough guy David Clarkson was hit by the league with a 10-game regular-season ban for leaving the bench to come to the aid of Kessel, who was being attacked by Buffalo's John Scott.
"While we acknowledge the initial motivation was self defense, he persists and swings his stick again even after having escaped the immediate threat from Scott," the league said in making their decision.
Also on Tuesday, the NHL fined Sabres head coach Ron Rolston for sending Scott, a Canadian, on the ice to line up beside Kessel on the draw. The NHL refused to release the amount of the fine.
The drama began halfway through the third period of Toronto's 5-3 win when the 2.07 metre (6ft 8in) Scott tried to goad Kessel (1.80m) into a fight while the teams were lining up for a faceoff near center ice.
Scott immediately went after the Toronto forward who backed away and took a couple of swings with his stick at Scott. Kessel was given a match penalty.
Toronto players rushed to defend their teammate, including Clarkson, the only player from either team to leave the bench and join the brawl.
Source: DSG
