Thrashers' forward Ilya Kovalchuk was suspended one game without pay by the National Hockey League on Wednesday for a hit from behind on Rangers' defenseman Michal Rozsival, the Associated Press reported. The suspension will cost Kovalchuk $34,224,60.

Colin Campbell, NHL Executive Vice President and enforcer of discipline, gave Steve Downie a stern warning about his sucker punch that left Toronto's Jason Blake with a black eye but did not suspend him. "We had a conversation with Mr. Campbell, and that's it. The rest will be between the league, the Flyers and Steve," said General Manager Paul Holmgren. "It was a good talk." "It's Steve's [fourth] NHL game. He's walking a fine line there, which is basically what he was told. My conversation with Steve was a little harsher than Colin Campbell's." Downie was suspended 20 games earlier this season for a bad hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond during pre-season. Downie's double minor came late in the game and cost the Flyers as the Maple Leafs got a power play goal down 2-0. "He's part of a team now and needs to think in those terms and not selfishly," Holmgren said. "I'm upset. It was Jason Blake. Jason is not a fighter. You get a player in that position, and I don't think Jason had his gloves off. I'm not happy about either. The fact that Steve put his team down is a different issue. That's a selfish thing. He'll get better."

Rick DiPietro's return could be short-lived. In last night's 4-3 overtime loss to the Panthers, the Islanders' goaltender - back after missing three games with a sprained left knee - played the first period with pads not inspected by the league and could face a two-game suspension. Goalie equipment must be inspected and approved by the NHL before it can be used in a game. Using illegal or uninspected equipment results in an automatic two-game suspension for the player and fines of $25,000 for the team and $1,000 for the equipment manager. "I got those pads a week before I got hurt, started wearing them and breaking them in and started using them in the game today," said DiPietro, who wore the new white pads in the warm-ups and changed to his old ones after the first period after a phone call from league officials in Toronto. "Usually before I get them, they've been sent to the league. I guess it's my fault, but I was under the impression that they'd been approved."