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Wednesday, December 8, 1999
Denis hit with two games
MONTREAL -- Denis Gauthier may have got in the first shot in Monday night's dance at the Garden.
But the league got in the last two:
Last night. And Friday.
The Flames hard-hitting defenceman was suspended two games for an elbow that coldcocked Tim Taylor of the Rangers 34 seconds into the New York-Calgary game. No penalty was called but replays clearly showed Gauthier leaving his feet and catching Taylor with an elbow-forearm.
The Rangers were livid about the incident, and spent the better part of the first two periods trying to exact retribution.
"I thought it was a good hit," said Gauthier yesterday. "I haven't seen it again but if it was dirty, the ref would've called it. He was standing right there."
Rather than back off after hitting Taylor, Gauthier went right back and continued running into people. He drew two extra minors on Rangers in search of payback for Taylor.
"I'm not going to change my style," said Gauthier. "I have to live with the decision but I don't have to agree with it. If you can't back up your actions on the ice, you look like a chicken.
"If they want to run around trying to get me back, fine. I'll take two minutes to four every time. I know I'm going to have to fight in this league, especially the way I lay on the body, but I don't mind backing off if it's going to help my team go on the powerplay.
"Nobody's going to scare me or intimidate me. I can take care of myself.
"I'm going to continue to hit. It's natural. It's fun. And" -- he smiled -- "it's earned me a good living."
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