The Defense Rests on Suspensions

The NHL’s best defensemen, if you buy the Norris Trophy voting last season, sat it out Saturday at St. Louis, where the Kings’ Rob Blake--who won the trophy last season--served the final game of his three-game suspension and the Blues’ Chris Pronger, who finished second in the Norris, began his four-game enforced respite.

Pronger was suspended--which will cost him four days of his $3.175-million salary, or $66,145.83--for trying to decapitate Phoenix’s Jeremy Roenick in a game Thursday night.

“It was incidental, but it was also careless usage of the stick,” said Pronger, who added that he was not surprised by the suspension.

Officials disagreed with the “incidental” description, calling the action a deliberate attempt to injure Roenick.

“I’m sure he thinks it’s too severe,” said Blake, who has said in no uncertain terms that he believed his was.

Blake and the NHL’s Colin Campbell have played phone tag since Blake’s criticism of the system was published Thursday.

“I don’t know that I really need to talk with him,” Blake said. “I think everything was said that needed to be said.”

Tonight

at Chicago, 5 p.m.

Fox Sports West

* Site--United Center.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 8-20-3, Blackhawks 9-18-4.

* Record vs. Blackhawks--1-0.

* Update--Chicago’s winless streak is at four games (0-3-1) after a 3-1 loss Saturday at Philadelphia in which Tony Amonte added to his league scoring lead with his 22nd goal. The Blackhawks were outshot, 40-24, not all that unusual in a season in which they have been outscored, 103-70.