Ludwig Penalty Takes a Shot

Players around the league noticed the relatively light punishment Craig Ludwig of the Dallas Stars received for decking Teemu Selanne with an elbow to the head last week.

At least one isn’t particularly happy about it and hopes the NHL cracks down on dangerous shots to the head.

Ludwig was suspended two games by the NHL because Brian Burke, director of hockey operations, said he did not believe there was a deliberate attempt to injure.

Veteran defenseman James Patrick of the Calgary Flames did not buy Burke’s explanation and offered a solution for future cases.

“In my mind, I think any deliberate attempt to go after a player’s head should be [penalized by] a two-minute minor and a game misconduct,” Patrick told the Calgary Sun. “You watch Ludwig on Selanne and he jumps at him. It wasn’t like Teemu ducked down and was hit while Ludwig was straight up.

“They [league officials] talk about cleaning up obstruction, holding and hooking, but this should be their next priority.”

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Rookie winger Frank Banham has scored a goal in three of the last four games, an encouraging sign for Coach Pierre Page.

“We’ve given him more ice time,” Page said of Banham, who had 83 goals and 152 points with Saskatoon of the junior-level Western Hockey League in 1995-96. “I think we might find out he’s better than a lot of other guys. We all know he’s got talent, but it’s his intensity that’s caught our eye. He’s probably the best guy we have on the boards.”

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The Ducks recalled J.F. Jomphe from Quebec of the International Hockey League and sent Peter LeBoutillier to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League.

TONIGHT

at Montreal

* 4:30 PST

* Channel 9

Site--Molson Centre.

Radio--KRLA 1110, KCKC 1350, KPLS 830.

Records--Ducks 21-37-10, Canadiens 32-27-9.

Record vs. Canadiens--0-1.

Update--Montreal is hurting. Brian Savage joined Benoit Brunet, Shayne Corson, Vincent Damphousse and Scott Thornton on the Canadiens’ injured list. Savage suffered a broken left thumb in the second period of the Canadiens’ 1-0 loss Thursday to the Chicago Blackhawks. Montreal was also short-handed. Coach Alain Vigneault had only 10 injury-free forwards against Chicago and was forced to move defensemen Brett Clark and Craig Rivet up front. Duck goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov is expected to start his career-high seventh consecutive game.