Sabres’ Barnaby Suspended

Buffalo Sabre forward Matthew Barnaby was suspended for four games and fined $1,000 for a hit on Boston’s P.J. Axelsson, the NHL said Thursday.

Barnaby collided with the Bruins wing early in the second period of the Sabres’ victory on Tuesday. The Buffalo wing delivered an elbow to the head, knocking Axelsson down.

Bruin Coach Pat Burns said after the game that Axelsson received a concussion from the hit.

“The league said they were going to clamp down on shots to the head,” Burns said.

Barnaby said he didn’t mean to hit Axelsson with an elbow.

“I tried to hit him with a shoulder,” Barnaby said.

Meanwhile, the Sabres called up veteran wing Randy Cunneyworth and center Erik Rasmussen from Rochester.

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Boston forward Anson Carter ended his holdout and signed a two-year contract with the Bruins.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 24-year-old left wing and center had been a Group II free agent, which would have given the Bruins the right to match any offer he received from another team.

Carter, who collected career highs of 16 goals and 27 assists in 78 games last season, had been staying in shape by playing with Utah of the International Hockey League.