MacKinnon fined, avoids suspension after helmet toss

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon is feeling a little lighter in the wallet Thursday after the NHL fined him $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct against Arizona Coyotes forward Conor Garland in Wednesday night’s drubbing at Ball Arena.

With just more than five minutes left in what would be a 9-3 blowout win for Colorado, MacKinnon fired Garland’s helmet at him after the Arizona forward lost his lid in a brief tussle moments before. MacKinnon was assessed a double-minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for the toss.

The fine is the maximum amount allowed under the current bargaining agreement, but MacKinnon avoids a suspension from the league.

After the game, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said he didn’t see the scrap but believes the altercation was likely born of frustration on the Coyotes side of things.

“You know Nate, he’s a competitive guy. I don’t like seeing him getting involved in every scrum,” Bednar said. “But every once in a while, I don’t know if he has a choice, and that might have been the case there.”

The incident may make it a little tough for MacKinnon to repeat as the NHL’s Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner, given each year to the ”player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”

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