Jordan Staal’s hooking penalty in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Flyers resulted in a Jaromir Jagr goal, but its Staal’s other penalty that will hurt him in the pocket book. Staal will have to give $2,500 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund for boarding Philadelphia’s Braydon Coburn in the second period of the Penguins’ 6-4 victory.
That’s the maximum amount that the NHL is allowed to fine a player for a single incident under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Staal isn’t expected to face any further punishment, so he should be available for Sunday’s game against Buffalo. That’s great news for the Penguins, given that Staal has been on fire lately with three goals and five points in four games since returning from a knee injury.