Devils' Holik Suspended

New Jersey Devils wing Bobby Holik was suspended for three games by the NHL Thursday after cutting Anaheim's Steve Rucchin with his stick.

Late in the second period of the Devils' 2-1 win on Wednesday, Holik swung at Rucchin with his left hand in a tangle-up on a faceoff. Holik was ejected for attempt to injure, but complained later that he was being held.

"I kind of pushed (Rucchin) down with one hand and then came over the top with no intention to hurt him," he said. "If the hand was at the end of my stick and I hit him with my glove, the referee probably would have called it roughing and we would have moved on.

"But my hand was a little lower on the stick and, if you look at the tape, I move both my hands lower on the draws. So the end of the stick is exposed."

The league announced that, based on Holik's annual average salary and his "repeat offender" status, Holik will lose $92,682.90.

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