THE SIDELINES : NHL Suspends Pair of Players

MONTREAL — York Islanders defenseman Jeff Norton drew an eight-game suspension and center Adam Creighton of the Chicago Blackhawks was suspended for five games by the NHL today for separate stick-swinging incidents in exhibition games on Sunday.

Norton was reprimanded by NHL Executive Vice-President Brian O’Neill for his conduct against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Norton drew a match penalty for deliberately injuring Penguins left winger Jeff Daniels, who was severely cut in the face by Norton’s stick.

O’Neill’s suspension of Creighton came after he reviewed a stick-swinging incident in which Creighton, in a retaliatory gesture, struck Minnesota’s Bobby Smith in a game against the North Stars, also on Sunday.