Senators' Ruutu avoids suspension for hit
Published: December 17, 2009, 10:57 pm
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National Hockey League issued an undisclosed fine and no suspension Thursday afternoon to Ottawa Senators forward Jarkko Ruutu for his shot to the head of Sabres winger Patrick Kaleta early in the second period of Wednesday night's 2-0 Buffalo loss in Scotiabank Place.
Prior to the league's ruling, there was plenty of talk in the Buffalo locker room Thursday about the growing problem of blows to the head.
"[Ruutu] could have gone shoulder to shoulder," said Derek Roy. "And then you've got the seamless glass in Ottawa that doesn't give any so that doesn't help. Patty's head went right into the boards. We're trying to get those head shots out of the game and it seems like they keep continuing.
"They have to do something in this league to take them out. Everyone seems to be doing it and getting one or two games [suspensions] and then coming back and doing it again."
Coach Lindy Ruff said Kaleta, who has suffered head and neck injuries in the past, had some vision problems. There's no timetable for Kaleta's return but Ruff was generally positive and hasn't ruled Kaleta out of tonight's game against Toronto or Saturday's against Pittsburgh.
Kaleta drew a two-game suspension for a Nov. 27 hit on Philadelphia's Jared Ross but the Sabres didn't get similar treatment when Kaleta was boarded Nov. 25 by Washington star Alexander Ovechkin, who was not suspended. Ruff didn't understand why Ruutu was not ejected.
"They felt they didn't see an injury on the play," he said. "I argued that we've lost the player. It's not where you see blood but it's an injury where you see a player has neck problems, has head problems and can't finish the game."
The Sabres, of course, have a contentious relationship with Ruutu. Last year, Adam Mair was restrained from going after Ruutu in the HSBC Arena hallway near the end of one meeting, and Ruutu got a two-game suspension for biting the finger of Andrew Peters during another game here.
"That guy has got a history and he went right for the head I thought," added Paul Gaustad. "From [the press box], it looked like it. There's not a lot of respect for that guy and what he does."
For his part, Ruutu pleaded innocence Thursday.
"I tried to hit [Kaleta] and missed a little bit," Ruutu told the Ottawa Citizen. "My shoulder hit his head and then his head hit the glass. That was really it. Not much you could do."
Coach Cory Clouston didn't see much wrong with the play.
"I thought it was a good hit," Clouston said. "[Ruutu] caught [Kaleta's] shoulder first. And you don't like to see a guy get hurt — he did get his head whacked against the glass, you never like to see that — but I don't think there was any intention on Ruutu's behalf to target the head."
Ryan Miller will start in goal for Buffalo tonight and it looks like Patrick Lalime will go here Saturday night against Pittsburgh. Lalime only smiled and said, "We'll see," when asked about Saturday.
Asked specifically about the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, Lalime then said, "They have a great team. We all know it. They play very well and it will be a great challenge."
Ruff generally does not reveal his starting goaltenders and would only say that his plan remains for Lalime to play this weekend. Lalime made 39 saves Friday in a 2-1 win over Chicago.
"It was important for his teammates and really everyone to see him play well and to get behind him," Ruff said. "It's really important when he gets back in there for the team to play well in front of him ... and for the players to know if they do fall down and make a mistake, he's right there to make a big save for him."
The Sabres had seven players afflicted by food poisoning from a meal at an Ottawa steakhouse Tuesday night. Lalime was one and Ruff said defensemen Tyler Myers and Henrik Tallinder were among the others. Myers, Tallinder, Steve Montador and Jochen Hecht were among those who didn't skate Thursday.
"I feel a lot better," said Lalime, who was back on the ice. "When it's a matter of food, it's a one-day thing. After that, you just fuel up the engine."
Ruff cracked the one-liner of the day when asked how the sickness impacted Wednesday's 2-0 loss.
Said the coach, "You hate throwing excuses around but the guys that weren't sick I didn't like either."
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