By Tarik El-Bashir
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 24, 2006

Washington Capitals Coach Glen Hanlon has been fined $30,000 and two of his players have been suspended, without pay, for their actions in the fight-filled final moments of Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers.

Enforcer Donald Brashear must sit out the Capitals' next three games while checking line center Brian Sutherby will miss one. The league also fined Thrashers Coach Bob Hartley $10,000 and suspended team captain Scott Mellanby for one game.

Brashear, Sutherby and Mellanby each were assessed instigating, fighting and game misconduct penalties in the final minutes of the game.

Rule 47.22 says, "a player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime, shall be automatically suspended for one game . . . in addition, the player's coach shall be fined $10,000 -- a fine that will double for each subsequent incident."

Hanlon's fine was the most levied against a coach for an on-ice incident, according to the league. Brashear's punishment was more severe because this marks his second suspension since March.

The Capitals, who have lost four straight games, will be without Brashear and Sutherby for tonight's game against Toronto at Verizon Center. Since Brashear can't return until next Thursday's game against Dallas, prospect Eric Fehr was recalled from Hershey (Pa.) of the American Hockey League.

Fisticuffs broke out with 62 seconds left when a second Thrashers defenseman went after Capitals rookie Mike Green's head.

"In contact sports like football or hockey, players have a code that goes beyond the written rule book," Capitals General Manager George McPhee said yesterday. "It's to prevent attempts to severely injure an opponent, attempts that would ultimately diminish the sport. The players usually know it when they see it. What was different about last night was there were two of those incidents."

Green ducked a potentially vicious hit by Vitaly Vishnevski near center ice. Then, with Atlanta ahead by two goals and about 2 1/2 minutes remaining, Thrashers veteran Andy Sutton also took a run at him.

Sutton, a 6-foot-6, 245-pounder, lined up the 6-1, 208-pound Green in front of the Thrashers' bench, but managed only a glancing blow to Green's head. Sutton was suspended last season for four games without pay for a high hit on Toronto's Darcy Tucker.

"I don't know exactly his intentions," said Green, who had already suffered a gash on his upper lip from a collision with teammate Alex Ovechkin. "His hands were high."

Brashear and the Capitals had seen enough. Brashear pounded Vishnevski, opening a cut on his head. Four more fights ensued over the game's final seconds.

"It was a dirty hit," rugged Capitals defenseman John Erskine said.

Hanlon, speaking before the league's ruling, was unrepentant.

"We addressed it, talked about it, and at the end of the day, these are the things that show your team will stick together and do the right things," he said. "We brought in physical players for that reason. We have the ability to protect ourselves."

The teams meet again Dec. 15 in Atlanta.

Capitals Notes: Left wing Alexander Semin (shoulder) participated fully during practice, perhaps a sign that he'll be able to return from injury reserve tomorrow against the New York Islanders.