Carolina's Ryan Bayda was fined $2,500 US for the cross-check on Pittsburgh's Kris Letang in Game 2. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Carolina forward Ryan Bayda was fined $2,500 US but was not suspended for cross-checking Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang in the mouth with 79 seconds left in the Penguins' 7-4 victory in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final Thursday.
Bayda had received a match penalty for intent to injure, which carries an automatic suspension, but that was waived following a review by league officials Friday, so he is eligible to dress for Game 3 Saturday evening at the RBC Center.
Before word of Bayda's fine began to circulate, Letang declined to say if he believed the cross-check was suspension-worthy.
"I'm not the guy who gives suspensions," Letang said. "There are people who are hired for that."
Bayda's cross-check was part of a skirmish that included fights featuring Letang and Pittsburgh right-winger Miroslav Satan вЂ" the latter dropping the gloves for just the second time in his career but acquitting himself surprisingly well against Hurricanes winger Patrick Eaves.
"Miroslav did something uncharacteristic," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "I know that he certainly gained a bit of respect from our locker room from the way he handled himself."
That might be understating it.
"I think it sends a big message that we're all going to do whatever it takes," Pittsburgh defenceman Hal Gill said. "Not that we want Miro to fight, but you're seeing things you don't see in the regular season."
