Selanne Is Troubled by Latest Incident

Teemu Selanne has seen enough. The NHL must do something about on-ice violence.

Selanne’s Avalanche teammate, Ossi Vaananen, was shaken up but unhurt after being slashed in the head by Toronto’s Wade Belak in Colorado’s 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Saturday night in Toronto.

Belak was jostling with Vaananen in front of the Avalanche net when he whipped around and violently hit the Colorado defender on the side of the head and neck with his stick.

Belak was ejected, given a match penalty for attempting to injure -- an infraction that carries an automatic review by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell.

“That has got to stop. I think every team has to have a meeting and talk about this stuff because we can’t let this happen,” Selanne said. “The guys are so strong these days. I know the intensity level is high every game, and the coaches tell us to play hard and finish your checks, be tough, but there is a line between stupidity and playing hard.”

Toronto defenseman Bryan McCabe said Belak didn’t mean to strike Vaananen.

“He was off-balance. The guy tried to kick his knee out and he tried to brace himself and the stick hit him,” McCabe said.

Vaananen said he was stunned more than anything. “I didn’t see it coming. We were just battling down low,” he said.

Belak wasn’t immediately available for comment.

It is the second time this month that an Avalanche player absorbed a violent hit from an opponent. On March 8, Vancouver forward Todd Bertuzzi punched Colorado rookie Steve Moore from behind -- leaving him hospitalized with broken vertebrae and a concussion.

Campbell suspended Bertuzzi for the rest of the regular season and playoffs.

Dallas 3, St. Louis 1 -- Stu Barnes scored the go-ahead goal with 12:04 remaining and the Stars extended their franchise-record, home-unbeaten streak to 17 games. Dallas defenseman Teppo Numminen has been diagnosed with a heart condition and is out indefinitely.

Nashville 3, Calgary 1 -- Martin Erat scored the go-ahead goal at 17:35 of the second period, and the visiting Predators moved into seventh place in the Western Conference.

Boston 5, Tampa Bay 4 -- Michael Nylander scored his first goal of the season 2:52 into the third period for the host Bruins.

Philadelphia 3, New York Rangers 0 -- Robert Esche made 24 saves for his third shutout of the season, leading the Flyers over the visiting Rangers.

Montreal 3, New Jersey 2 -- Rookie Michael Ryder had a goal and an assist, and the host Canadiens beat the Devils.

Carolina 3, Ottawa 2 -- Bret Hedican scored with 59.3 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Hurricanes over the visiting Senators.

Atlanta 2, Washington 2 -- Andy Sutton scored his second power-play goal of the game with 35.2 seconds left to give the Thrashers a tie with the host Capitals.

Buffalo 2, Florida 1 -- Miroslav Satan and Derek Roy both scored, helping the visiting Sabres beat the Panthers.