NHL fines Buffalo Sabers star for vicious hit on Florida Panthers player

Tempers heated up when the Buffalo Sabers faced the Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division early in the season. With less than 10 minutes left in the third period, Sabers captain and star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin was involved in an on-ice incident that escalated tensions into a few scuffles.

As Sabers blue liner and Panthers forward Anton Lundell chased a loose puck in the Buffalo zone, Dahlin's stick made contact with Lundell's face, causing him to fall to the ice. Lundell's teammates quickly pounced on Dahlin and a scrum quickly ensued as officials tried to break things up. While the Panthers were furious after contact, there was no penalty on the ice.

The NHL Department of Player Safety disagreed with the missing call and took some discipline against Dahlin. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Sabers star was fined $5,000 for his actions in the game, the maximum allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement.

The discipline is a relief for the Sabers and Dahlin, who may have been expecting some sort of suspension for the high-profile incident. Because he was fined, he appears to have been spared further consequences and will be available when Buffalo plays for the next game.

This is Dahlin's first season as the Sabres' captain, and he hopes to lead his team to the playoffs in his first season with the “C.” With another solid year, he could put himself in the Norris Trophy discussion as the league's best defender.

It would also help him if the Sabers could remain competitive in a crowded Atlantic Division. In addition to the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, there are hopeful contenders in the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. It's a daunting task for Buffalo, who are desperately trying to end the NHL's longest playoff drought.

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