Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving is not pleased with the NHL's decision to suspend Milan Lucic two games for roughing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kole Sherwood.

"I've got the utmost respect for George Parros and the department of player safety," Treliving said. "They do a great job. But on this one, we vehemently disagree."

Lucic landed a heavy sucker punch on Sherwood after the Jackets rookie tried to poke home a loose puck under goaltender David Rittich before the whistle. Lucic continued to get shots in after knocking Sherwood to the ice.

"I saw a player who poked, jabbed, whacked, speared, whatever you want to call it, the goaltender," Treliving said. "I think 31 teams around the league, if you do that to anybody, there is going to be a reaction."

Lucic received a double minor for roughing on the play. Treliving added he thought the on-ice officials handled the play correctly.

Lucic's history played a part in the league's decision. This is the fourth suspension of his career and he's been fined an additional five times. He's been suspended once and fined once for punches to the face of unwilling opponents since January 2016.

"We support our player 100 percent," Treliving continued. "We want our players to support each other, back each other up, and we felt that's what Milan was doing in this case."

Lucic has three points in 16 games this season and sits third in the league with 30 penalty minutes. Treliving acquired the 31-year-old enforcer along with a conditional third-round pick from the Edmonton Oilers this summer in exchange for James Neal.

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The Montreal Canadiens have called up forward Ryan Poehling and placed forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi on injured reserve, the team announced Sunday.

Poehling, who scored a hat trick and shootout winner in his NHL debut last year in Montreal's regular-season finale, has three goals and five points in 13 games with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate this year.

Kotkaniemi, the third overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, missed Saturday's contest against the Dallas Stars with a groin injury. The Finnish sophomore has two goals and one assist in 12 games this season.

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The Montreal Canadiens have called up forward Ryan Poehling and placed forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi on injured reserve, the team announced Sunday.

Poehling, who scored a hat trick and shootout winner in his NHL debut last year in Montreal's regular-season finale, has three goals and five points in 13 games with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate this year.

Kotkaniemi, the third overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, missed Saturday's contest against the Dallas Stars with a groin injury. The Finnish sophomore has two goals and one assist in 12 games this season.

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Warning: Story contains graphic image

Ottawa Senators forward Scott Sabourin suffered a fractured nose Saturday but is expected to be released from the hospital Sunday, general manager Pierre Dorion announced.

Sabourin had to be stretchered off after he landed face-first on the ice following a collision with David Backes of the Boston Bruins early in Saturday's contest. Sabourin was tended to for several minutes, gave a thumbs-up as he was taken off the ice, and was then transported to a Boston-area hospital.

The 27-year-old gave his Instagram followers a glimpse at his condition Sunday morning.

(Courtesy: @s.sab92)

Sabourin has appeared in 11 games for the Senators this season, his first in the NHL after playing parts of seven AHL campaigns.

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The Dustin Byfuglien situation appears to have hit another complication.

The veteran blue-liner and the Winnipeg Jets are likely headed to arbitration to settle the ongoing saga, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday's "Headlines" segment.

Byfuglien was suspended by the team without pay to begin the season as he contemplated retirement despite having two seasons left on his contract. However, he recently underwent ankle surgery to repair unresolved issues from an injury suffered last season.

If Byfuglien had no intention of retiring but was deemed unfit to play to begin the season due to a hockey-related injury, he likely would've been placed on long-term injured reserve and been able to collect his salary.

"It’s emotional, it’s heated, and it’s likely going to arbitration," Friedman said. "... But, from what I understand, (the Jets) feel in the exit physical at the end of last year, Dustin Byfuglien was deemed fit to play. He didn’t let anyone know that he had injuries with his ankle all summer, and made it clear at the beginning of the year he was ready to retire.

"However, Byfuglien - his representatives at Octagon and I assume the Players’ Association, too - their position is Byfuglien was hurt going into the playoffs, everybody knew that, he was playing injured, he took all summer off to heal, he went to Winnipeg because he planned to play, his ankle acted up again when he started skating, and they feel it’s a legitimate hockey injury.

"As part of the surgery, (they) discovered a broken bone in his foot, but there’s also dispute over when that injury occurred and when everybody knew this. So, laying it out that way right now, I think now everybody has a better understanding of why an arbitrator, as we sit here tonight, is probably going to have to decide this."

Byfuglien has already missed out on roughly $1.4 million of his salary this year, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston added.

The Jets, meanwhile, have severely missed their minutes leader from the last four seasons. In addition to Byfuglien, the offseason departures of Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, and Ben Chiarot have left Winnipeg's blue line shorthanded. Josh Morrissey is the only holdover to play more than 25 games for the Jets last year.

Winnipeg enters Saturday ranked 21st in goals allowed after finishing in the top half of the league the last two campaigns.

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Calgary Flames enforcer Milan Lucic was handed a double-minor for roughing after sucker punching Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kole Sherwood on Saturday night.

Lucic took exception to Sherwood jabbing at a loose puck under goaltender David Rittich. The whistle had not been blown at the time Sherwood attempted to jam home the rebound.

Lucic landed the initial blow, then got in a few more shots as he trampled Sherwood to the ice.

Sherwood left the game to undergo concussion protocol but eventually returned.

Lucic entered the evening third in the NHL with 26 penalty minutes.

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