No suspension for Canes' Walker

With: BC-HKN--Bruins-Hurricanes

AP Photo MACK101

AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker was fined $2,500 but will not be suspended by the NHL for throwing a punch that may have broken a bone in Boston defenseman Aaron Ward's face.

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford told The Associated Press on Monday that the automatic suspension given to Walker was rescinded during a hearing with league disciplinarian Colin Campbell. It was determined that the hit was not a "sucker punch.''

Tempers flared in the final minutes of Boston's 4-0 victory Sunday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals when Ward and Carolina's Matt Cullen began shoving in front of the Bruins' net. Walker skated in and hit Ward with a right cross, and was given a misconduct, a fighting major and an instigator penalty.