Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney was fined $1,500 today for spearing Washington rookie Alex Ovechkin in the groin during the Penguins' 8-1 victory against the Capitals at Mellon Arena last night.

The penalty was handed down after Whitney had a telephone hearing with NHL executive Colin Campbell this morning.

Campell did not deem Whitney's infraction worthy of a suspension, and he will be in the lineup when the Penguins meet the New York Islanders tonight at 7:08 at Nassau Coliseum.

Whitney speared Ovechkin with a few seconds left in the second period but insists it was accidental and that he had only been trying to tie up Ovechkin by putting his stick between Ovechkin's legs.

"(Campbell) was pretty sure by watching it that it wasn't your normal kind of spear, where there's a lot of intent," Whitney said.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.