Andy Sutton has been suspended five games for his hit on Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night, and this is one that makes just about all the sense in the world.
Andy Sutton Suspended Five Games For Hit On Gabriel Landeskog
Andy Sutton of the Edmonton Oilers has been suspended five games for his hit on Avalanche rookie Gabriel Landeskog.
Sutton, the defenseman from the Edmonton Oilers, lined up the Avs rookie for a check at center ice and clipped him directly in the head with his elbow instead of taking the body. That would be against the rules. As the video shows...
As Brendan Shanahan says, it's the exact definition of Rule 48. The principal point of contact is with the head, and as a result, Sutton deserves to sit for it. If he connects with the body of Landeskog here there's no problem at all, but he connects with the head. "Recklessly targeted," as Shanahan says.
Shanahan also cited Sutton’s history of fines and suspensions, which contributed to the NHL’s decision on this suspension. He’s already served one game of the suspension -- Sunday’s Oilers win vs. St. Louis -- and will be eligible to return to the lineup on Friday, November 11 vs. Detroit.
For more on Sutton, check in with Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
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