Team Passes the Hat for Matt

Matt Johnson went home from Pittsburgh with a Christmas present, courtesy of the Kings, who chipped in to help defray the $95,121.96 in salary he forfeited during the 12-game suspension meted out by the NHL.

Johnson was a healthy scratch for the game Tuesday, the first for which he has been eligible since he was suspended by the league for hammering the New York Rangers’ Jeff Beukeboom during a game at the Great Western Forum on Nov. 19.

“Everyone to a man participated,” said King captain Rob Blake, who, along with Johnson, declined to say how much was collected. “We think they were way too strict on him. I mean, the league’s policy is that there’s no way the Kings can cover him or reimburse him, so. . . .

“What Matty was doing, he was doing for the team. He was doing it for Ray Ferraro and Glen Murray and anybody else Beukeboom was trying to hit.”

A few minutes before Johnson’s match penalty, Beukeboom had tripped Murray in what most players said was an example of “slew-footing.” And Beukeboom had hit Ferraro last season in an incident in which Ferraro injured his knee.

“I really appreciated what everybody did,” Johnson said. “I mean, I’m well-paid, but 10% of your salary [actually 14.6% of his $650,000 salary] is a hard hit.”

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The Penguins recalled goalie Craig Hiller from Syracuse and right wing Dan Kesa from Detroit of the International Hockey League. Hiller served as a backup to backup goalie Peter Skudra, who gave up five goals in two periods Monday night at Toronto after starting goalie Tom Barrasso--who had started 16 consecutive games--suffered a hip injury.

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Pittsburgh fans were not exactly in a Christmas mood Tuesday night. When a tape of winger Stu Barnes “wishing you a happy holiday” came up on the message board after he was detected as a culprit on a King goal, he was booed.