NHL Suspends Panthers' Worrell

Florida Panthers rookie left wing Peter Worrell was suspended three games without pay by the NHL for delivering a jaw-breaking elbow to Pittsburgh's Alexei Morozov on Saturday.

Worrell also was levied the maximum $1,000 fine by the league after taking a major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct at 7:12 of the third period in Florida's 4-0 loss. Morozov also received a concussion as a result of the hit and sat out the Penguins' 4-1 loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday.

"Worrell delivered an elbow-forearm to the head of his opponent, who suffered a concussion as a result," said NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell, who has handed out 14 suspensions in just over five weeks.

Two days before elbowing Morozov, the 6-6, 225-pound Worrell was involved in an alleged on-ice racial incident with the Flyers. Worrell, who is black, barreled into Philadelphia goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck before tangling with Flyers center Chris Gratton, who reportedly called the Panthers forward an "ape."

However, both players denied the incident occurred.

Worrell has become one of the league's most intimidating forces, ranking fourth in the Eastern Conference with 63 penalty minutes. His brief 1997-98 stint produced 153 penalty minutes in just 19 games.

The 21-year-old Canadian will miss games at Boston and New Jersey and against Philadelphia in the next six days.

Florida has won three of its last five games and is in second place with 15 points in the weak Southeast Division, four behind Carolina.

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