May Apologizes To Heinze

NHL teams

Heinze needed nine stitches on his nose, but was not seriously hurt by May on Saturday night. May got a match penalty for attempt to injure, and has sat out the two games since the infraction.

"I have to be held accountable," May said. "I've never gone after anybody like that before in my career. Honestly, I just wanted to tap him on the arm,"

May apologized to Heinze after the game. Heinze said he accepted the apology.

"Careless with the stick is a problem, there's no doubt about that," Columbus general manager Doug MacLean said. "Steve Heinze only got nine stitches on the end of the nose, but it very well could have been an eye or it could have been a broken jaw or is could have been something more serious. I guess it comes to a point that it's unfortunate for Brad May, but maybe it's good for everybody to see how severely this is going to be treated."

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, May will forfeit $117,647 of his salary. The money goes to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.