NHL Short Notes

LESSARD GETS DISCIPLINED FROM THE NHL

The Phoenix Coyotes learned on Wednesday that 30 year-old forward Francis Lessard will be suspended for the first three games of the regular season due to a highly controversial hit on Anaheim Ducks Ryan Donally over the weekend. Lessard who was given a boarding penalty and a game misconduct was originally drafted in 1997 by the Carolina Hurricanes and has played most of his career in the American Hockey League. In the 91 games that Lessard has dressed for at the NHL level he has scored one goal and four points.

 AVALANCHE LOSE ELITE DEFENCEMAN

With approximately a week remaining until the regular season the Colorado Avalanche have lost prized defenceman Tom Preissing long term due to a severe knee injury. This 30 year-old who became an Avalanche this summer when moved in a multi player trade played in only 22 games last season where he had three goals and seven points. Preissing who had a scope performed on the injured right knee had is best season in 2006/07 when he scored 38 points and was a +40. It’ll obviously be a monumental loss for an Avalanche team that is in a rebuilding mode. 

MORENCY ALSO GETS SUSPENDED

Looking to make an impression on the New York Islanders brass on Thursday night Pascal Morency wanted to prove that he was a team player when he bolted off the bench in the second period and went after Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf who seconds earlier knocked out Islanders forward Kyle Okposo. While the 27 year-old was just trying to defend his teammate he did end up getting into trouble with the league for leaving the bench to start a fight that escalated into a brawl. This 27 year-old received a stiff penalty in the form of being suspended for the remaining pre-season games and five regular season games.