Enforcer Sawyer Is Suspended

Enforcer Kevin Sawyer was surprised Wednesday to receive a two-game suspension for charging King goalie Felix Potvin during Monday’s game.

It is the second suspension this season for Sawyer, who sat out five games in December after running Calgary goalie Mike Vernon in a fight-filled game Dec. 8.

On Monday, Potvin went behind the net to retrieve the puck and Sawyer skated in and dropped him. Sawyer received a five-minute charging penalty.

“I’m angry about it, to be quite honest, that I have sit another two games in NHL,” Sawyer said. “This is different than Calgary. I didn’t expect five, but I expected something [after that game]. I’m angry about this, but it’s the same old thing, I’ll accept it.”

Sawyer and Coach Bryan Murray said that there was no intention to hit Potvin.

“The normal goaltender is taught go in and return the puck where it came from,” Murray said. “Felix picked the puck up, turned and opened up. Kevin doesn’t stop very well and got a piece of him.”

Sawyer is second in the NHL with 175 penalty minutes.

Chris Foster