Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta has been suspended five games for boarding New York Rangers centre Brad Richards on Sunday night.
Kaleta is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He will lose more than $72,000 in salary, and begin serving the suspension Tuesday, when Buffalo plays at Carolina.
The Rangers got a scare 3:28 into the third when Richards was shoved from behind into the half boards by Kaleta. Kaleta, who has already been suspended twice in his NHL career, was assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind and was given a game misconduct.
Richards was on the ice for nearly two minutes before being helped to the bench. He returned to the game, which the Rangers eventually won 3-2 in a shootout.
"No need for it," Richards said of the hit after the game. "That's not a hit that was ever in the game, I don't think. That's a little different than (a) headshot. That's just stupidity.
"It's not hockey. I don't know what game he plays, actually. He doesn't play hockey to begin with. It's the same guy all the time."
Kaleta is not eligible to return until March 17, when Buffalo plays at Washington.
