Posted by Scott Burnside
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The NHL opted not to suspend Carolina forward Ryan Bayda after he received a match penalty for intent to injure for cross checking Kris Letang in Thursday's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Bayda was assessed a $2,500 fine, the most allowed under the collective-bargaining agreement.
"I saw everyone after the crosscheck," Letang said Friday. "I just saw everyone coming at me. They were icing the puck. I was just going back to try to touch the puck. He got his stick up. I know they are going to review it. I'm not the one to judge."
Where did Bayda's stick get him? "Right in the teeth," Letang said.
Who knew?
Here's what Sidney Crosby had to say on tying an all-time playoff record for scoring the first goal in a game for the sixth time this spring:
"I didn't even know they kept numbers like that. It's crazy. They keep stats on everything. I have no idea why it's turned out this way. All I can say is, you always want to get off to a good start."
Can't hear? No problem
The Penguins are no strangers to loud buildings this spring. They've not just survived but thrived in Philadelphia and Washington, where they won both their previous series.
"It is a test. You can't communicate. The crowd yells during a change in momentum like they do in the regular season for a goal," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "Philly was crazy ... Washington was crazy. And we're going to get it again. You see it on the lawn of the arena when you drive in. We've got to keep getting the puck in deep. That's how you take the crowd out of it."
ESPN.com Stanley Cup playoffs blog
