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MONTREAL — Montreal Canadiens forward Tom Kostopoulos will not be suspended for his left hook sucker punch to the face of Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen on Saturday.
The NHL hockey operations office reviewed the incident and ruled that because Kostopoulos was penalized on the play and Timonen was not injured, no further discipline was necessary.
The unpleasant incident occurred after Flyers forward R. J. Umberger scored the match's final goal with two minutes and 21 seconds remaining in the third period. As the post-goal celebration took place, Kostopoulos punched Timonen with a left hook and then the Montreal player fell on top of Timonen.
In his post-game remarks, Flyers coach John Stevens seethed when asked about the scene, calling it “cowardly, in my opinion.”
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Kostopoulos was given a roughing penalty, but so Philadelphia forward Scott Hartnell, who went after the Montreal player after the sucker punch.
Montreal Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau defended the actions of his player on Sunday as his team prepared for game 3 in Philadelphia on Monday. The Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal is knotted at 1-1.
“After that goal they should not have been taunting our players,” Carbonneau said. “They should have been happy and went to the bench. Don't turn around and [deride] our players.
“He deserved it. That's why they didn't call any [extra] penalties on it.”
Timonen said that he didn't say anything to the Canadiens after Umberger's second goal of the game nor did he do anything that would have been perceived as taunting. Kostopoulos backed up Timonen's claim by stating that he simply lost his emotions.
“I just let my emotions take control,” Kostopoulos said. “I was upset and we were losing.
“I should have controlled my emotions and skated back to the bench.”
