NEW YORK -- San Jose Sharks forward Ryane Clowe has been suspended for two games, without pay, for leaving the bench on a legal line change and starting an altercation with Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw during NHL Game No. 249 in Chicago on Friday, February 22, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.



Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Clowe will forfeit $39,189.18. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.



Clowe was assessed a minor penalty for roughing and a game misconduct for leaving the bench on an illegal line change to start an altercation with 8.4 seconds left in regulation – an infraction that calls for an automatic 10-game suspension.



Upon further review of video of the incident and following a hearing conducted today to examine the incident, it was determined that Clowe, in fact, entered the ice on a legal line change. However, upon doing so, he skated directly to Shaw, who was not engaged physically with any other player. Clowe then grabbed Shaw and wrestled him to the ice.



Rule 70.2 states, in part: "A player who has entered play while play is in progress from his own players' bench…who starts an altercation may be subject to discipline in accordance with Rule 28 -- Supplementary Discipline."



Clowe was suspended pending the hearing and missed San Jose's game on Feb. 23 at Dallas. He also will miss the game Feb. 26 vs. Colorado. He will be eligible to return Feb. 28 vs. Detroit.



For a full explanation of the Department of Player Safety's decision, complete with video, please click on the following link: http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=60&id=207221.