Flyers tough guy Dan Carcillo has a reputation of being a dirty player sometimes leading him to getting a good share of penalties -- sometimes when another player wouldn’t be whistled.
But frustration over the zebras boiled over during the Flyers elimination loss earlier this month and on Tuesday Carcillo was suspended without pay for the first two games of next season for confronting officials.
NHL senior vice president Mike Murphy announced the ruling. Carcillo acknowledged during a hearing that he regrets his actions during the Flyers Game 4 semifinal loss to the Bruins.
"Between the first and second period, while off ice and outside the officials' locker room, Mr. Carcillo engaged in aggressive behavior and inappropriate conduct directed at the officials," said Murphy. "While Mr. Carcillo acknowledged in the hearing that he regrets his actions outside of the officials' room, there can be no defense for his conduct.
"I also reviewed the verbal confrontation between Carcillo and linesman Brian Murphy at the players' bench prior to the start of the second period and have determined that, while the verbal abuse may have been worthy of a penalty, there is no evidence that Carcillo's action merit supplemental discipline," concluded Murphy.
The suspension will take place over the first two games of the 2011-12 season, the league confirmed.
The Flyers had no comment on the punishment.
The money Carcillo will forfeit will go to the Player’s Emergency Assistance Fund, according to the NHL.
