NEW YORK (CP) - The NHL came down hard on Calgary Flames backup goaltender Jamie McLennan on Sunday, suspending him for five games for his slash on Detroit's Johan Franzen in Game 5.
In addition, Calgary coach Jim Playfair was fined US$25,000 and the Flames' organization was fined $100,000. McLennan was given a match penalty for his slash, which occurred at 17:01 of the third period. There were several other scraps and penalties in the closing minutes of the game, which the Red Wings won 5-1.
"In our pre-playoff conference calls with the coaches and general managers of the respective organizations, we addressed a number of topics - and one of them was actions late in the game when the score was out of hand," Colin Campbell, NHL's senior executive vice-president and director of hockey operations, said in a statement.
"The coach and the organization must be held accountable for the players' actions."
Calgary needs a win in Game 6 on Sunday to force a deciding game in the best-of-seven first-round series.
The Flames recalled goalie Brent Krahn from their AHL affiliate in Omaha.
