INSIDE HOCKEY

The NHL has announced that Islanders' defenseman Brendan Witt has been suspended for five games without pay as the result of his elbow to the head of Toronto's Niklas Hagman in Thursday night's game at the Nassau Coliseum.

The incident took place at the 2:21 mark of the third period. Hagman was chasing the puck, tried to change directions and was hit in the head by Witt's elbow. Hagman did not return to the game after the incident. He has 19 goals and 37 points in 58 games this season.

Witt was assessed a five-minute major and ejected from the game. The Islander defenseman inquired about Hagman's health with Coliseum officials after the game.

"I feel bad, but there are going to be repercussions obviously," Witt told reporters last night. "I just wanted to make sure he was OK. I didn’t try to put my elbow up on purpose. I understood that they had to call [a penalty]. You always feel bad when a guy gets hit like that. I just made sure with the doctors that he was okay. You don't wish that on anybody, but it is a quick game and quick reactions. Unfortunately, stuff like that happens."

The five-game suspension will cost Witt $74,372.75 in salary. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

"We are disappointed to lose a player of Brendan's caliber and character for this period of time, but we understand the League's concerns regarding hits to the head," said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow.

Ironically, the first game Witt will be eligible to return to action will be March 10 when the Islanders visit Toronto to face the Maple Leafs.