Ouch: Friedman Fined the Max for Spearing Kuraly

Mark Friedman didn’t get to finish the Pittsburgh Penguins final preseason game on Saturday after he speared Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly.

Officials assessed Friedman a five-minute major and a 10-minute game misconduct. The Penguins won the game 4-3 in OT when Jason Zucker scored in overtime. However, the Penguins were forced to play more than 50 minutes of the game with only five defensemen.

On Sunday, the NHL levied a little more punishment.

From the NHL release:

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman has been fined $1,812.50, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for spearing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly during NHL Preseason Game No. 97 in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 9, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 9:47 of the first period. Friedman was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for spearing.

The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.