Stars foward Mike Ribeiro, left, is held back by Detroit's Kris Draper after Ribeiro delivered a slash to Chris Osgood. (Paul Sancya/Associated Press)The NHL's decision not to suspend Detroit goalie Chris Osgood and Dallas forward Mike Ribeiro was the right move, according to commissioner Gary Bettman.
Osgood and Ribeiro were fined undisclosed amounts on Sunday following an incident near the final buzzer in Sunday's 2-1 Red Wings win in Game 2 of the Western Conference final.
Osgood stuck out the butt end of his stick as Ribeiro skated by the crease as time expired, making contact with the Stars player. Ribeiro then slashed the goalie in the chest, with Osgood falling to the ice and remaining there for several moments as a post-game scrum ensued.
Some observers argued that one or both of the players should have been suspended for the incident. Bettman, though, rejected that notion during an appearance Monday on Hockey Night in Canada Radio.
"Osgood shouldn't have lifted the butt end of his stick, and Riberio shouldn't have hit him back with his stick, but the consequences of both of those weren't sufficiently great that it required supplemental discipline," the commissioner said.
Bettman also responded to criticism that the incident would've been punished more severely had it not occurred in a playoff contest.
"I don't think what happened in the Dallas-Detroit game would've been suspended during the regular season," said Bettman. "Both players were fined. They weren't the most egregious acts, although both were inappropriate."
In addition, Bettman said he thinks the NHL is doing enough to protect goaltenders, who on some occasions in the playoffs have come under siege by opposing players crowding the crease.
"We've instructed the clubs, and the clubs participating know, that we're going to protect the goaltenders," Bettman said. "But that doesn't stop clubs from being a little more aggressive around the crease and making it harder for the goaltenders to see the puck."
