Washington Capitals' forward Garnet Hathaway has received a three game suspension for for spitting on Anaheim Ducks defender Erik Gudbranson.
Late in the second period of the Capitals-Ducks game, following a thunderous hit by Brendan Leipsic, a scrum ensued behind the Ducks' net. Hathaway and Gudbranson were tied up with a ref between them, when the incident occurred. Hathaway responded to a punch from Gudbranson by spitting towards his face. He went on to receive a five minute match penalty and a game misconduct.
" Unfortunately, spit came out of my mouth after I got sucker-punched and it went onto him," Hathaway said post-game. "It has no place. It was an emotional play by me. You don't plan any of that stuff in your head, and it was a quick reaction and unfortunately the wrong one for me to a sucker punch"
Hathaway will also forfeit $24,193.53 of his salary, and it will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
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