NHL Roundup: Scott faces hearing; Eriksson out indefinitely
Noted enforcer John Scott of the Buffalo Sabres was invited to an in-person hearing with the NHL to review his illegal hit that injured Boston Bruins forward Loui Eriksson.
The game took an ugly turn 5:49 into the third when Eriksson took a direct hit to the head in the neutral zone from Scott. Eriksson was helped to the Boston locker room and did not return. Scott received a five-minute major for an illegal check and then a five-minute fighting major.
Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid fought Scott following the hit, and Krug scored his second goal of the period minutes later to give Boston a 5-2 cushion.
The Bruins announced Thursday that Eriksson is out indefinitely with a concussion.
---Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the 10-game suspension that assessed to Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta for an illegal check to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, the NHL announced Thursday.
Kaleta's appeal of the original decision, assessed Oct. 15, was heard on in New York on Monday. Kaleta, viewed as a repeat offender by the league, received a 10-game suspension for the hit, which occurred Oct. 10.
He already sat out the first two games of the ban, which will cost him $152,439 in salary. Kaleta will be eligible to return to the Sabres' lineup for a Nov. 2 home game against the Anaheim Ducks.
---Defenseman Olli Maatta will remain with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the rest of the season, the team announced.
Maatta, the 22nd pick in the 2012 draft, has a goal and two assists in nine games.
The Penguins had to declare whether Maatta would stay in Pittsburgh or return to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Maatta, 19, is not eligible for the American Hockey League. Returning him to the CHL would have delayed the start of his three-year, entry-level contract.
---Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne will miss at least a month recovering from hip surgery.
The arthroscopic surgery was not officially scheduled.
Rinne has a 2.31 goals-against average and is 4-4-1. He arrived at Wednesday's practice with a fever and the team fears he contracted an infection. Rinne's hip was operated on May 9.
Rinne, a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist, will be replaced by Carter Hutton, who is 1-0-0 in two starts this season. Magnus Hellberg was recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals. The 22-year-old is 1-2-0 with a 2.23 GAA this season.
