Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Associated Press
OTTAWA - Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was fined $10,000 by the NHL for his role in the brawl between Buffalo and the Ottawa Senators.
The teams fought Thursday night, and the fine was announced hours before the teams met again Saturday night in Ottawa. NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell was expected to attend.
Angered by Chris Neil's elbow to Sabres forward Chris Drury, Ruff sent out tough guys Andrew Peters, Patrick Kaleta and Adam Mair to take a faceoff against Ottawa's Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Mike Comrie. Afterward, Ruff admitted telling his players, "Go out and run 'em."
Drury sustained a suspected concussion and 20-stitch gash to his forehead when he crashed to the ice after being blindsided by Neil in the second period.
Neil was not penalized for the hit and insisted he caught Drury with a clean shoulder check. Ruff complained to the referees that Neil used his elbow.