Senators LW Ruutu accused of biting

Jan 7, 2009 - 1:56 PM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- While the NHL has had its share of black eyes so to speak, bites have been rare.

That changed Tuesday when Ottawa Senators left wing Jarkko Ruutu apparently bit the right thumb of Buffalo's Andrew Peters during an altercation in the first period of the Sabres' 4-2 victory.

Peters was wearing his glove when the incident occurred, but the alleged bite pulled the glove off his hand, and he immediately grasped his thumb in pain and skated away.

Television replays clearly showed Ruutu - at the very least - using his teeth to pull off Peters' glove. The broadcast also showed Peters pleading with officials and yelling toward the Ottawa bench, "He (expletive) bit me."

"Maybe the league will take care of it and that will be enough, that will be the end of it, that's all I can say," said Peters, who received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for sparking the altercation.

Ruutu, who was not penalized, denied biting Peters and instead pointed out that he was the victim of an eye gouge from Peters during the fray.

"(Claiming I bit him) was a way for him to try and draw a penalty," Ruutu said. "Nothing happened there."

Peters, who said Ruutu broke through the skin with the bite, was wearing a bandage after the game.

The NHL is expected to review the incident.