Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Wednesday 20 november 2019
Capitals brace for Hathaway to be suspended for spitting

By STEPHEN WHYNO who will do that stuff. May- every way possible. We
AP Hockey Writer be someone has to pick up want to give ourselves the
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — a little bit of physicality for best chance we can, and
Garnet Hathaway was the night, or someone else that's to have a full com-
ejected for spitting on an has to go out there and get plement of players."
opponent and now the a couple of hits. Ultimately, Winger Carl Hagelin has
Washington Capitals wing- we'll see what happens missed six games with an
er may have to swallow with him, and we'll hope to undisclosed upper body in-
more punishment from the get him back as soon as we jury, and center Nic Dowd
NHL. can." Washington is right up has missed the past three
Hathaway was given a against the $81.5 million with a deep cut on his left
match penalty for spitting salary cap ceiling and has hand. Hagelin skated in
on Anaheim defenseman the minimum of 18 healthy a no-contact jersey Tues-
Erik Gudbranson in a brawl skaters on the roster. Be- day, while Dowd remains
during the Capitals' 5-2 vic- cause of that, coach Todd out with an injury Reirden
tory Monday. That carries Washington Capitals right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) fights Reirden said there would cryptically called "a little bit
with it an automatic sus- Anaheim Ducks center Derek Grant (38) during the second be some roster moves to more serious than we an-
pension pending a review period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, in make sure his team has a ticipated."
by the NHL, and it is likely Washington. full lineup in New York. The Capitals could put
the Capitals won't have Associated Press "We're really trying to find Hagelin or Dowd on long-
Hathaway in the lineup adding some grit that was ger. every possible option to term injured list to save cap
Wednesday night in New missing last season. Now "I don't think anyone needs stay away from playing space, though that would
York against the Rangers. they'll likely have to com- to step up and be Garnet short," Reirden said. "That necessitate either player
There is little precedent pensate for his absence for Hathaway," forward Tra- may happen one day, too, missing a total of 10 games
for Hathaway's actions, at least a game, if not lon- vis Boyd said. "We got guys but certainly trying to find and 24 days.q
other than the part of the
rulebook that deems it
worthy of an ejection and
the league's process of
having its hockey opera-
tions department review
each match penalty. Bos-
ton's Brad Marchand was
warned during the playoffs
last spring about licking op-
ponents but was not sus-
pended.
A decision from the
league's hockey opera-
tions department could
come as late as Wednes-
day morning.
"You never want to sit and
leave guys hanging and
not be able to help out,"
Hathaway said. "It would
be unfortunate if I wasn't
(playing), but they are
a team that can handle
themselves and not wor-
ried about them in the out-
comes of games."
A day after drawing scorn
from Gudbranson and
the Ducks and generating
buzz for spitting, Hatha-
way reiterated his remorse
about the incident that
took place late in the sec-
ond period.
"I regret doing it," Hatha-
way said. "I didn't have any
arms free and made an
emotional decision that I
wish I didn't, but right now I
am trying to move on from
it and there is nothing that I
can do but apologize."
Hathaway has been a
strong addition for the
Capitals, putting up two
goals and five assists and