Montreal Canadiens F Maxim Lapierre has been suspended four games for a late hit on San Jose Sharks F Scott Nichol.

Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre has been suspended for four games for a late hit on San Jose forward Scott Nichol during Thursday night’s Sharks win. Early in the third, Lapierre knocked Nichol into the end boards with a late joke of a hit. Nichol laid on the ice for some time before getting up

MONTREAL CENTER MAXIM LAPIERRE CHECKS SCOTT NICHOL FROM BEHIND IN 3RD - CSNCA NICHOL INJURED ON PLAY, COULD MISS 7-10 DAYS - CSNCA More notes on last night’s 3-2 win and the injury to Scott Nichol/Maxim Lapierre suspension will be posted soon. [Update] Official press release from the NHL: MONTREAL’S LAPIERRE SUSPENDED FOR FOUR GAMES TORONTO (March 5, 2010) – Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre has been suspended for four games, without pay, for a late hit on San Jose Sharks forward Scott Nichol during NHL game #949, last night, the National Hockey league announced today. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Lapierre will forfeit $14,248.72

Montreal Canadiens center Maxim Lapierre has been suspended four games Friday for a hit on San Jose Sharks center Scott Nichol. Lapierre knocked Nichol into the end boards 1:50 into the third period of the Sharks’ 3-2 win Thursday night in San Jose

TORONTO (March 5, 2010) – Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre has been suspended for four games, without pay, for a late hit on San Jose Sharks forward Scott Nichol during NHL game #949, last night, the National Hockey league announced today. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Lapierre will forfeit $14,248.72

They say that a loss is a loss no matter how well a team play. On paper there is no question that last night’s 3-2 loss to the Sharks hurt the Habs tremendously in the standings…Read the full article on Bleacher Report…

Through 40 minutes of play the Canadiens were convincing enough to suggest they might pull away with at least a point, in a building they’ve failed to collect two in for more than a decade. Carey Price was sensational, as he frustrated the Sharks, turning away quality chance after quality chance.

Chris Lee(notes) in an NHL referee. You’ll notice him to the right, where he had the best view of Montreal Canadiens agitator Maxim Lapierre’s(notes) hit from behind on Scott Nichol(notes) of the San Jose Sharks in last night’s Sharks win at home.It’s a shame that just as this Dale Hunter-esque check into the end boards occurred, Lee’s whistle malfunctioned and his arms were suddenly paralyzed; those can be the only logical explanations for why Lapierre wasn’t penalized on what is, without question, one of the most unsportsmanlike plays we’ve seen in the calendar year. From the Mercury News:San Jose hit the post a third time at 1:56 of the third period when Mitchell set up Nichol, who went crashing into the boards at the end of the play with a little help from Lapierre.

This was just the kind of test San Jose coach Todd McLellan wants for his team before the playoffs. Playing a physical game against a desperate team, the Sharks managed to overcome three shots off posts and stellar goaltending from Carey Price to pull out a 3-…

This was just the kind of test San Jose coach Todd McLellan wants for his team before the playoffs. Playing a physical game against a desperate team, the Sharks managed to overcome three shots off posts and stellar goaltending from Carey Price to pull out a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night