 |
 |
 |
|
DETROIT - The availability of team scoring leader Mike Ribeiro to the Stars rests in the hands of NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell.
Emotions boiled over in the final seconds of Detroit's 2-1 victory in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena that gave the Red Wings a 2-0 series lead.
After the game ended, Ribeiro was standing behind the Red Wings' net and reached over the net, making a two-handed slash with his stick to goalie Chris Osgood's chest.
Ribeiro was given a 10-minute match penalty that Campbell, the NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations, will review for possible further discipline. Campbell, who was in attendance, could elect to suspend Ribeiro for Game 3 on Monday in Dallas.
Stars coach Dave Tippett said Ribeiro was retaliating after Osgood used the butt end of his stick to hit Ribeiro near an eye as he whirled past the Red Wings' goal in the final seconds. Osgood was turning away from the oncoming Ribeiro when the end of his stick caught Ribeiro in the face.
"I think Osgood thought Ribeiro was going to try to run him, and Osgood sticks his stick out," Tippett said. "Then Ribeiro turns around and slashes him, which is not right, but something made Ribby do that. He's not going to turn around and hit the goalie like that. That's not the way that works."
Ribeiro didn't make himself available to the media after the game. He was escorted out of the arena by a Stars spokesman.
Osgood said he was standing his ground and didn't intentionally hit Ribeiro.
"I was just trying to stand out there to make sure Nicklas Lidstrom didn't get run because I could see two guys coming," Osgood said. "Whether I hit him or not, it was an accident. He probably skated through my stick and that would be it. I was more or less trying to protect our best player.
"But I don't think that justified a two-hander over the top of the net. He could have went about it a different way or said something to me. We're professionals out there and we can go about it in the right manner."
Osgood fell to the ice after Ribeiro slashed him.
"It did hurt a bit," he said. "A little sore, but I'll be fine."
Losing Ribeiro would be a major blow to the Stars. He leads them with 15 points in the playoffs and has 12 assists, tying him for the NHL postseason lead with Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby. Ribeiro led Dallas in the regular season with 83 points and 56 assists and tied for second on the team with 27 goals.
smith21 
