NHL suspends Caps' forward 6 games

TORONTO, April 27 (UPI) -- The NHL Monday suspended Washington Capitals forward Donald Brashear for six games for two incidents in Sunday's game with the New York Rangers.

Brashear was suspended five games for his hit on the Rangers' Blair Betts midway through the first period of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. He was given a one-game ban for making contact with Rangers forward Colton Orr during pre-game warmups.

Betts had to leave the game after being blindsided by Brashear, and did not return. Game officials did not call a penalty on Brashear.

Brashear will not play in Game 7 of the Washington-Rangers playoff Tuesday. The suspension will carry over through Washington's next five playoff games if the Capitals advance, or the beginning of the 2009-10 regular season if New York wins Tuesday.