NHL suspends Carcillo for fight that earned him 19 penalty minutes

Philadelphia Flyers coach Peter Laviolette center, directs his team as Arron Asham, left, and Daniel Carcillo watch from the bench in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Philadelphia. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Matt Slocum

PHILADELPHIA - The NHL has suspended Flyers forward Dan Carcillo four games for his role in a fight that earned him 19 penalty minutes and a game misconduct.

Carcillo landed a big punch on Washington's Matt Bradley as he dropped his gloves Saturday night. Following Carcillo's punch, Bradley fell to the ice and left the game. Despite being in the process of dropping his gloves, Bradley wasn't penalized.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said on Sunday that he did not agree with the decision.

Carcillo was given two minutes for cross-checking, two minutes for instigating, five minutes for fighting, a 10-minute misconduct and a game misconduct in Philadelphia's 8-2 loss.

He will start the suspension beginning Monday at Montreal.