Chicago Blackhawks rookie forward Kris Versteeg has been suspended for one game and head coach Joel Quenneville fined $10,000 for Versteeg being assessed an instigator penalty in the final seconds of last night's 7-1 win over Phoenix.
NHL rules call for an automatic one-game suspension for the player and a $10,000 fine to his coach for any player who instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game, but the league reviews each one case-by-case and, in some instances, rescinds the suspension and fine.
Versteeg was assessed the instigator for starting a fight with 19-year-old Kyle Turris of the Coyotes. Turris had his nose bloodied and Coyotes' coach Wayne Gretzky was livid with Versteeg after the game. Versteeg said Turris challenged him to fight. The Coyotes dispute that.