Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has been suspended two games, the Department of Player Safety announced on Friday.
Landeskog received a match penalty in Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins for an illegal check to the head of Boston’s Brad Marchand, the source of the suspension.
In addition to the two-game suspension for Landeskog, the DoPS issued a $5,000 fine to Marchand for getting up from the hit and “roughing” Landeskog. The “roughing” that Player Safety is refers to was really a pretty square, glove-on punch to the face.
Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog has been suspended 2 games for an illegal check to the head of Boston's Brad Marchand. https://t.co/e0PHYMclPM
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 13, 2015
Boston's Brad Marchand has been fined $5,000 for roughing Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 13, 2015
The explanation given by DoPS is that Landeskog’s biggest issue was that the head was the main point of contact. Though many Bs fans were upset that they believed it to be a late hit, the DoPS goes to great lengths to point out that Marchand is eligible to be hit.
Landeskog has never previously been suspended, though he was fined once.
As we pointed out this morning, any loss of Landeskog is a blow to Colorado, who is in last place in the Central Division and five points out from the last wild card spot in the Western Conference.
With a score-adjusted CF% of 44.4%, Colorado has the worst mark in the league. They have the second worst scoring chance differential at -58, with the second worst scoring chances for per 60 minutes of even strength play at 22.1 and they allow the ninth most scoring chances against per 60 minutes at 26.8.
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