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Dallas Stars forward Steve Ott was suspended two games by the NHL for a hip check on St. Louis Blues defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo on Saturday.
Ott was not given a penalty for the hit, but was issued a roughing penalty in the scrum that followed. He will serve the penalty immediately, meaning he will not play Wednesday against Toronto and Florida on Friday, both home games.
Ott, who will forfeit $35,585 of salary, would not comment on the suspension but did say that he wouldn't change his style of play.
"Not one bit," Ott said. "The only thing I can do is continue to throw textbook hits and that's it."
Stars coach Marc Crawford doesn't think Ott should alter his game based on his history of suspensions.
"Probably because of his reputation, he doesn't get enough credit for being a very good player," Crawford said. "He needs to be an antagonizing guy for him to feel comfortable. It's a big part of who he is."
This is Ott's third career suspension.
He received three games in 2008 for a hit to the head of defenseman Jordan Leopold, then with Colorado. And Ott got a one-game suspension last season for an eye gouge on Travis Moen of Anaheim.
Ott has missed four games this season with an oblique muscle injury. He has four points and 18 penalty minutes in seven games this season. Ott is coming off a career-best 2008-09 season. He had 19 goals and 27 assists in 64 games.
Ott was not given a penalty for the hit, but was issued a roughing penalty in the scrum that followed. He will serve the penalty immediately, meaning he will not play Wednesday against Toronto and Florida on Friday, both home games.
Ott, who will forfeit $35,585 of salary, would not comment on the suspension but did say that he wouldn't change his style of play.
"Not one bit," Ott said. "The only thing I can do is continue to throw textbook hits and that's it."
Stars coach Marc Crawford doesn't think Ott should alter his game based on his history of suspensions.
"Probably because of his reputation, he doesn't get enough credit for being a very good player," Crawford said. "He needs to be an antagonizing guy for him to feel comfortable. It's a big part of who he is."
This is Ott's third career suspension.
He received three games in 2008 for a hit to the head of defenseman Jordan Leopold, then with Colorado. And Ott got a one-game suspension last season for an eye gouge on Travis Moen of Anaheim.
Ott has missed four games this season with an oblique muscle injury. He has four points and 18 penalty minutes in seven games this season. Ott is coming off a career-best 2008-09 season. He had 19 goals and 27 assists in 64 games.
