The Nashville Predators have suspended Russian forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, but have not specified the reasoning behind the decision. General Manager David Poile played coy as to the exact incident. He did specify that the suspension is for one game only. He also elaborated about the team’s rules being centred around a “team-first” mentality, pointing out that whatever they did, was something extremely selfish.
The two will miss game three on Wednesday night versus the Phoenix Coyotes. This comes at a particularly troublesome time as the Predators trail the Coyotes in their second-round series 2-0. Wednesday’s game is critical if the Preds are to get back into the series, and they will have home ice advantage on their side.
Kostitsyn, acquired from the Canadiens earlier this season, has three goals and a helper thus far in the playoffs. Radulov, also a late-comer to the roster from the KHL, has one goal and five helpers. The two players have 1 shot combined (a goal by Kostitsyn) in the series.
UPDATE: There are numerous reports coming out right now, including from Yahoo’s Puck Daddy that the forwards were seen drinking in a Scottsdale, Arizona Bar at 4am Sunday Morning (local time). This was only 13 hours before puck drop in game 2 of the Nashville/Phoenix series.
…and that is the last word.
