Number To Know
2 — The number of times in 72 career NHL games Brett Bellemore has received more than one penalty in a game. It was certainly out of character for Bellemore to take a mind-numbing four penalties in Wednesday’s preseason win over the Islanders.
Bellemore was called for all four infractions in the last nine minutes second period: three minors (tripping, interference and elbowing) followed by a fighting major. Bellemore has received multiple penalties in an NHL game just twice:
- In a 4-2 loss to the Rangers on March 8, 2014, Bellemore was called for a matching roughing minor — along with New York’s Chris Kreider — in the third period that led to a 4-on-4 Rangers goal that tied the score at 2. He was then was called for delay of game at 16:02 just 32 seconds after teammate Ron Hainsey received the same minor. New York notched the game-winner on the 5-on-3, and later added an empty netter.
- The Hurricanes blanked the Islanders 1-0 on Nov. 8, 2013, and Bellemore was again part of matching roughing calls, this time with Kyle Okposo of the Isles in the second period. His other infraction came earlier in that frame when he fought New York’s Matt Martin — the same player he matched up with Wednesday — and earned a five-minute major.
There's certainly no love lost between Bellemore and Martin. According to hockeyfights.com, the two have been frequent combatants throughout their careers: as mentioned above, they have fought twice in the NHL, plus once in the AHL in 2009-10, and twice in the OHL (once each in 2007-08 and 2008-09).