NHL suspends Jarkko Ruutu for two games

Ottawa Senators forward Jarkko Ruutu was suspended for two games without pay by the NHL on Wednesday for catching Montreal's Maxim Lapierre with an elbow.

Ruutu received a two-minute penalty for charging in the third period of the Canadiens' 4-0 win Tuesday night. He will forfeit almost $14,000 in salary and will sit out a home-and-home series against the New York Islanders.

He'll be eligible to return Nov. 17, when the Senators play the New York Rangers.

On Monday, the NHL suspended Canadiens forward Tom Kostopolous three games without pay for hitting Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Van Ryn from behind during a game last weekend.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-11-12-08 1529EST