Lightning Goalie Suspended

January 14, 2000 / 6:51 PM EST / CBS/AP

Tampa Bay goalie Dan Cloutier was suspended by the NHL for four games without pay for kicking New York Islanders forward Tim Connolly on Thursday night.

Twenty-four penalties, including five misconducts, were called in game, a 4-2 win by the Lightning. But Cloutier's cross-check followed by a kick to Connolly's head was not called by the officials.

"Even though no injury was sustained by the Islander player, we view Mr. Cloutier's action as extremely serious and dangerous," NHL vice president Colin Campbell said Friday.

The suspension will cost Cloutier $11,188.

At 8:39 of the first period, Connolly crashed the net and fell into Cloutier. The goalie then cross-checked a prone Connolly in the back and kicked his helmet.

Islanders coach Butch Goring screamed at referees Greg Kimmerly and Mark Faucette after the play.

"Any time you see a goaltender kick a player in the head, you'd like to hope someone sees it because that's a pretty serious attempt to injure someone," Goring said.