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NHL Fines Islanders, Suspends Godard, Gillies & Martin

NEW YORK (KDKA/AP) -- Officials with the NHL have handed down their punishments following Friday night's fight-filled hockey game between the Penguins and New York Islanders.

The game at Nassau Coliseum produced 346 penalty minutes, 10 ejections, 15 fighting majors and 20 misconducts.

On the Penguins side of things, only Eric Godard is facing discipline from the league. The enforcer received an automatic 10-game suspension for leaving the bench during one of the many brawls during the third period.

Godard's was the easiest sentence to hand out as the penalty for his actions is explicitly stated in the league rule book (Rule 70.11).

Although he appeared to be coming to the defense of backup goalie Brent Johnson, who was charged by New York's Micheal Haley for a fight, that didn't alter the punishment.

In a statement, Campbell said: "There can be no circumstance that allows for a player to leave his bench for the purpose of coming to the aid of a teammate."

As for the Islanders, two of their players have been suspended and the club is also facing a hefty, $100,000 fine for their actions.

The NHL has suspended Isles forward Trevor Gillies for nine games. He delivered a blow to the head of Eric Tangradi, and afterward punched the injured Penguins forward several times as he fell to the ice.

Tangradi was left with concussion-like symptoms from the incident and it will keep him out for at least Sunday's game against the New York Rangers.

Also, forward Matt Martin is facing a four-game ban from the league. The Islander punched an unsuspecting Max Talbot from behind, sparking a melee in the second period.

"The actions by the Islanders' Gillies and Martin were deliberate attempts to injure by delivering blows to the head of players who were unsuspecting and unable to defend themselves," Campbell said after conducting hearings in Buffalo. "The message should be clear to all players: targeting the head of an opponent by whatever means will be dealt with by suspension."

The low-budget Islanders were hit hard financially by Campbell, who said the team "must bear some responsibility for their failure to control their players."

Gillies will lose $24,193 in salary, Martin will be docked $41,585, and Godard will give up $40,322.

For more on the Penguins, visit the Shea-ved Ice Blog.

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