Jan. 15--Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen said he never saw Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Booth skating toward him during the third period of the Ducks' 4-0 victory.
The NHL saw the encounter quite differently.
The league on Thursday announced that Vatanen has been slapped with a $3,393.82 maximum fine for throwing an elbow at Booth that left the player woozy and requiring assistance off the ice.
An argument could be made that Booth intended to deliver a major hit on Vatanen. The defenseman instead averted pain, subjecting Booth to discomfort.
"I didn't see the play, I was going toward the puck pretty deep and the guy [Booth] followed behind me," Vatanen said after the game. "I didn't see that."
