NHL Fines Senators' Josh Norris For Second Embellishment Offense

Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris got a $2,000 fine from the NHL for diving and embellishment, the league announced Friday.

The fine comes after the NHL's hockey operations department flagged Norris for a second incident of embellishment this season. The department tracks all games, logs all penalties for diving or embellishment and flags any play that deserved a penalty but wasn't called.

Norris received a warning after getting a penalty for embellishment against the New York Islanders on Nov. 7. There's no fine on the first citation.

The second citation that triggered the fine came from the Senators' game against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 5.

Midway through the third period, with the score tied 1-1 and the Red Wings on the power play, Norris was in a race for the puck with Detroit Red Wings center Marco Kasper.

As Kasper got the inside lane to the puck, he stuck out his left arm. Norris appeared to squeeze Kasper's arm between his arm and body before turning around, losing balance and falling.

Kasper received a two-minute minor for holding as a result. The Senators didn't score during the penalty, but Norris ended up beating Ville Husso with under a minute to go to give Ottawa a 2-1 victory.

Earlier in the third period, Norris was penalized for cross-checking, but Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider dropped to his knees and went to the box for embellishment.

Norris, 25, has 12 goals and seven assists for 19 points in 28 games this season.

NHL's Second Embellishment Fine In December

Norris is the second player in December to receive a fine for repeated embellishment or diving.

Edmonton Oilers left winger Jeff Skinner received a $2,000 fine on Dec. 2 after the NHL believed he embellished on Oct. 22 against the Carolina Hurricanes and on Nov. 23 against the New York Rangers.

Rule 64 of the NHL rulebook is designed to more seriously punish players and teams the more they dive or embellish to try to draw a penalty.

When any club's players collect a combined four fines for embellishment or diving, the coach also gets fined.

If either Norris, Skinner or any player gets three citations, they will receive a $3,000 fine. Four citations bring a $4,000 fine, and five citations onward trigger a $5,000 fine.

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