Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has been fined $2,734.38 by the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct following an incident during Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The altercation occurred when Shattenkirk struck Penguins winger Michael Bunting with his stick from the bench, prompting the league’s disciplinary action.
Although Shattenkirk went unpunished during the game, replays showed the incident unfolding with 19:37 remaining in the first period of the Bruins’ 6-4 victory. The sequence began when Bunting made contact with Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark, leading to an exchange that saw Ullmark fall over after Bunting’s stick caught his skates.
As Bunting skated past the Boston bench, Shattenkirk allegedly extended his stick and made contact with him, resulting in the league’s decision to levy a fine. The amount of the fine, $2,734.38, represents the maximum penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct as stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement, with the funds allocated to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Despite the controversy surrounding the incident, both Shattenkirk and Bunting contributed to the game’s outcome, with Shattenkirk scoring a goal and Bunting registering one goal and one assist. Meanwhile, Ullmark’s 28 saves secured the victory for the Bruins, as Shattenkirk returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous three games as a healthy scratch.