PHILADELPHIA — Flyers forward Dan Carcillo has been suspended two games for a hit on New Jersey’s David Clarkson.
The NHL suspended Carcillo on Tuesday, forcing him out of the Flyers’ upcoming games against the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said he’s disappointed by the league’s decision to suspend Carcillo for the hit in Sunday’s 5-1 win over the Devils. Holm- gren said the hit was clearly an accidental high-stick blow.
The Flyers are tied with the Canadiens for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of eighth-place Boston.
Carcillo has 20 points and 196 penalty minutes in 72 games this season.
O’Brien benched.
Canucks defenseman Shane O’Brien will be benched for three games because of disciplinary reasons.
Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said O’Brien wouldn’t play in Tuesday night’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes. He also won’t accompany the team for Thursday’s game in Los Angeles or Friday’s game at Anaheim.
O’Brien will not practice with the team until Sunday.
Vigneault didn’t give a specific reason for the action.
Penguins sign Letang.
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang signed a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2013-14 season.
The deal prevents him from becoming a restricted free agent.
Re-signing the 22-year-old Letang became a priority for Pittsburgh because defenseman Sergei Gonchar’s contract runs out after this season. Letang has three goals and 24 assists in 67 games this season.
Letang scored the winner in overtime against Washington in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, helping the Penguins win the series in seven games.
Harding out for season.
Wild goaltender Josh Harding won’t play the rest of the season.
The team said Harding has a torn labrum in his hip and will likely need surgery.
The Wild has six games remaining and is a longshot to make the playoffs.
Harding aggravated his injury in Friday’s game at Detroit and was removed after two periods.
Coyotes deal still on track.
The head of Ice Edge Holdings said his company remains on track to purchase the Coyotes, despite widespread speculation that the acquisition is in trouble because of financing.
Chief executive officer Anthony LeBlanc said the company hired former Arizona attorney general Grant Woods to finalize a new lease agreement with the city of Glendale, Ariz., where the Coyotes play their home games.
Footnotes.
The Maple Leafs signed Vermont forward Brayden Irwin to a two-year contract.
• The Stars signed former Yale forward Sean Backman to a one-year contract.
• Canadiens center Glen Metropolit will miss at least the rest of the regular season because of a shoulder injury.
He was hurt during a 4-2 loss to New Jersey on Saturday night.
The Associated Press
