The NHL Department of Player Safety fined Tampa Bay Lightning forward Austin Watson $2,022.57 - the maximum allowable - for unsportsmanlike conduct Friday.
Watson unleashed a slap shot from his own blue line that struck Nashville Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon at center ice as time expired on a 5-1 loss Thursday.
Austin Watson drilled Jeremy Lauzon with a slap shot at the very end of tonight's game.
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 8, 2023
Not sure what he was thinking. Brutal.#Preds | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/yJmrKy5zCH
Watson got a 10-minute misconduct and a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said postgame he wasn't happy with the play.
Here was Brunette after the game: pic.twitter.com/sOUVWX5ZKd
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) December 8, 2023
Watson played his first six seasons with the Predators before suiting up for three with the Ottawa Senators and then signing a one-year deal with the Lightning on Oct. 9.
Nashville acquired Lauzon in a March 2022 trade with the Seattle Kraken. He began his career with the Boston Bruins in 2018-19.
