Watson incident not domestic violence, girlfriend writes

The girlfriend of Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson said in a statement Saturday that the incident between the two that led to Watson's suspension "was not an act of domestic violence."

Jenn Guardino said she takes "full responsibility for my actions on that day" in her statement, released days after Watson's original 27-game suspension from the NHL was cut to 18 games by a neutral arbitrator, making him eligible to return Nov. 15.

The episode involving Watson and Guardino occurred June 16, when police were flagged down near a gas station in Franklin, Tenn., just south of Nashville.

Officers found Watson and Guardino in a parked car, and Watson acknowledged pushing Guardino during an argument. When officers noticed red marks on her chest, she said Watson caused those as well.

Watson was then arrested on suspicion of domestic assault. In July, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor domestic assault and was sentenced to probation.

Guardino took the blame for the incident, saying in her statement, "Austin Watson has never, and would never hit or abuse me. My behavior and state of intoxication led to the police being involved that day."

Guardino also said she is "fortunate to have Austin's continued support" for her yearslong struggle with alcoholism. She is taking part in Alcoholics Anonymous, she wrote.

Watson was a first-round pick of the Predators in the 2010 draft and signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract a year ago. He scored a career-high 14 goals in the 2017-18 season.