Nino Niederreiter responds to Mike Cammalleri suspension

 Nino Niederreiter said he was surprised to see Montreal's Mike Cammalleri react the way he did after the 18-year-old Swiss winger landed what he felt was a clean hit on him.

"I was. He's a great player so he didn't need to do that," Niederreiter said after practice Tuesday.

Niederreiter was on the receiving end of a hard-two handed slash during the second period of the Islanders 7-2 preseason loss to the Canadiens in Quebec Saturday. Upset about an earlier hit from Niederreiter, Cammalleri cross-checked the Islanders first-round draft pick, speared him and then took a whack to his left leg.

Cammalleri, who received a slashing major and a game  misconduct, received a one-game suspension from the league Monday. He will not play in the team's regular-season opener against the Maple Leafs Thursday.

"I think it definitely should've been more than one game [suspension] because it wasn't just a slash but he cross-checked and speared me too. I definitely think it should've been at least two [games] but I hope I can play against him soon," Niederreiter said.

Niederreiter, who limped off the ice Saturday and did not return to the game  because of a bruised calf, returned to practice yesterday and said he was feeling good.

"Way better."