Kevin Shattenkirk fined for touching Michael Bunting

The NHL has punished Kevin Shattenkirk of the Boston Bruins for unsportsmanlike conduct for touching Michael Bunting of the Pittsburgh Penguins from his bench.

In a game between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins that got heated last night, the Bruins Kevin Shattenkirk did something he wasn't supposed to do. While on his own bench, Shattenkirk reached out and touched Michael Bunting on the glove with his stick. No penalty was called on the play.

" Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has been fined $2,734.38, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for unsportsmanlike conduct against Pittsburgh Penguins forward Michael Bunting during NHL Game No. 1279 in Pittsburgh on Saturday, April 13, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 19:37 of the first period.

The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund." - NHL Department of Player Safety

If you're wondering how hard Shattenkirk hit Bunting, the answer is not very. Players on the bench aren't supposed to touch players on the ice, no question. But this seemed less than minor.

Also being noted online is that Shattenkirk's actions appeared to be in retaliation for Bunting tripping Boston goaltender Linus Ullmark accidentally on purpose a little earlier in the play.

The Bruins ended up defeating the Penguins 6-4. The loss caused the Pittsburgh Penguins to drop out of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference with two games left to go in the regular season. There are three teams battling for the final wild card along with the Penguins: the Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, and Philadelphia Flyers. The Caps, Wings and Flyers all have 87 points, while Pittsburgh has 86. They all have two games left except Philadelphia, who has just one.

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14 AVRIL \| 97 ANSWERS Kevin Shattenkirk fined for touching Michael Bunting Do you think Kevin Shattenkirk deserved this fine for touching Michael Bunting from the bench?
Yes	54	55.7 %
No	33	34 %
Not sure	10	10.3 %
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