NHL notebook: Blackhawks ban 4 fans for racist taunt

[February 20, 2018]  The Chicago Blackhawks have banned four fans from attending games at the United Center after ejecting them from Saturday's game for making racist taunts toward Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly.

"Racist comments and other inappropriate behavior are not tolerated by the Chicago Blackhawks," the team said in a statement.

The fans chanted "basketball, basketball" at the 25-year-old Smith-Pelly, who is black, while he was in the penalty box during Saturday's game. Smith-Pelly was visibly upset and at one point grabbed his stick and walked over to tap the glass with it. An off-ice official sitting next to Smith-Pelly notified building security of the fans chanting, and arena officials quickly ejected them.

There are fewer than 30 black players currently on NHL rosters.

--The Capitals acquired defenseman Michal Kempny from the Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in the 2018 NHL draft.

Kempny, 27, recorded one goal and six assists in 31 games with the Blackhawks this season. In 81 career NHL games, he owns 15 points (three goals, 12 assist) and 34 penalty minutes.

Chicago signed the Hodonin, Czech Republic, native as a free agent on May 24, 2016. Prior to joining the Blackhawks, Kempny tallied 60 points (21 goals, 39 assists) over 213 games in the Czech League.

--Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno is expected to be sidelined one to two weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury in Sunday's game, the team announced.

 

The veteran forward got hurt in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He left late in the second period and did not return after playing one shift in the third.

Foligno, 30, has 13 goals and 13 assists in 59 games this season and leads the team with 46 penalty minutes.

--The NHL suspended New Jersey Devils forward Miles Wood two games for a hit Saturday on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov.

The hit occurred five minutes into the second period with the game tied 2-2. Wood was skating hard toward the back of Namestnikov, who was facing the half boards and backhanding the puck out of his team's zone, and did not let up, checking through Namestnikov's numbers and slamming his face into the glass.

Lightning defenseman Andrej Sustr immediately approached Wood and the two exchanged blows, with Wood's punches landing and breaking Sustr's visor, cutting the defenseman's face and drawing streams of blood. Both men were assessed minor penalties for roughing, and Wood was also given a minor penalty for boarding Namestnikov.

--Field Level Media

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