VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) - Philadelphia All-Star forward Claude Giroux was suspended by the NHL Monday after his hit on New Jersey center Dainius Zubrus in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night.
Giroux will miss Tuesday's Game 5 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Flyers, who lost 4-2 on Sunday in Newark, N.J., trail the series, 3-1.
Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed the suspension on Monday.
Giroux spoke to the media on Monday by way of a conference call because the team did not practice. Ha says the team is "panicking" and has lost confidence in its game against the Devils. That was never more evident than when he was called for the head-hit penalty on Zubrus.
Philadelphia's leading scorer in the postseason with 17 points, Giroux spoke with league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan on Monday. Giroux says he's not a dirty player and had no intention of hitting Zubrus in the head.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
