Blake Suspended for Three Games

King defenseman Rob Blake was suspended for three games for taking batting practice on the arm of Vancouver’s Harry York, and the swing will cost him $83,304.69.

Harder hit, though, were the Kings, who lost Blake, their captain and Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, just when they were beginning to generate some momentum in an otherwise momentumless season.

The punishment was meted out by Colin Campbell, the NHL’s director of hockey operations, Monday about an hour after a five-minute conference call with Blake, King Coach Larry Robinson, General Manager Dave Taylor and various members of the parties’ supporting casts.

The figures include a $1,000 fine, standard in such matters, plus three days’ salary, based on Blake’s earning $5,267,500 for a 192-day season. He gets an $83,304.69 tax deduction, but unwanted time off.

It was all a surprise to Blake.

Then again, being suspended for Sunday’s game against Anaheim was a surprise as well.

“I think a five-minute major was definitely enough,” said Blake, who was assessed that penalty, plus a game misconduct, in the Kings’ 3-0 win over Vancouver on Saturday night after hitting York just above his right elbow.

“We’re playing Anaheim [Sunday], we haven’t won in our division--you miss that game and it’s probably our most important game of the season. The damage has been done.”

The 3-0 loss to the Mighty Ducks wasn’t enough damage, according to Campbell.

“Mr. Blake used excessive force with a baseball grip, swinging to the arm of the Vancouver player,” Campbell said. “His use of the stick in this manner caused an injury, which is something the league cannot condone.”

Said Robinson, “If that’s a baseball swing, they’re hitting singles.”

Indeed, Blake’s hands were apart on the stick when he swung it at York, intending, he said, to knock the stick from York’s hands or dislodge the puck at the red line.

“If you look at the play, there’s only one intention,” Blake said. “If I can get the puck, we have a two-on-one.”

While killing a penalty, the Kings’ Glen Murray and Yanic Perreault were in position to take the puck to the net against Vancouver’s Adrian Aucoin on the play. The Kings have nine short-handed goals this season.

Instead, Blake was whistled for the foul.

X-rays of York’s arm proved negative and he was treated for a bruise that will not cost him game time.

“He’ll probably shoot the puck harder than ever,” said Robinson, plainly disgusted by the suspension of his best player.

Blake will miss Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders and Saturday’s at St. Louis before coming back to the Kings for a game Sunday at Chicago.

Blake joins teammate Matt Johnson on the suspended list. Johnson drew 12 games for hitting the New York Rangers’ Jeff Beukeboom in a game on Nov. 19.