Pittsburgh Penguins' James Neal stretches during NHL hockey practice in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The Penguins face the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of a first round Stanley Cup playoffs series in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The Flyers lead the best-of-seven games series 3-0. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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2012-04-17 23:32:00
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The NHL suspended Pittsburgh forward Arron Asham for four games—the remainder of his club's series with the Philadelphia Flyers—and gave a one-game ban to Penguins teammate James Neal on Tuesday night for separate infractions.
Asham was punished after being given a match penalty for attempting to injure Philadelphia forward Brayden Schenn with a cross-check on Sunday in the first period of Pittsburgh's loss that put the Penguins in a 3-0 series hole.
If the series ends before Game 7, Asham will have to serve the remainder of the suspension next season.
Neal will miss Game 4 on Wednesday night for charging Flyers forward Claude Giroux in the third period on Sunday. Neal was given a minor penalty for charging and was ejected.
The Penguins will also be without forward Craig Adams, who received an automatic one-game suspension from the NHL on Monday for instigating a fight late in Game 3. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma was fined $10,000 for the same fight.
Adams went after Flyers forward Scott Hartnell late in the third period while Hartnell was involved in an altercation with Sidney Crosby. Adams intervened, yanked Hartnell's hair, and the two started fighting.
Adams was assessed a minor penalty for instigating, a major penalty for fighting and was ejected.
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This Week - Subscribe NowWhich team trailing 3-1 in their series is most likely to come back and win?
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"Probably not. Their depth and our play right now...it doesn't look too good."
- Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, when asked if his team could come back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins.