The NHL Department of Player Safety officially concluded what was probably a foregone conclusion anyway, suspending Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nikita Nesterov two games for a hit on Dallas Stars winger Curtis McKenzie on Thursday.
Nikita Nesterov suspended two games for boarding Curtis McKenzie
This was not unexpected.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The incident occurred in the second period, moments after Stars captain Jamie Benn knocked Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman out of the game with a late hit of his own. Whether in retaliation or not, Nesterov lined up a hit on an unsuspecting McKenzie along the boards in the neutral zone and followed through.
Nesterov was given a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct, while McKenzie was sent to the hospital in “excruciating pain.“ The NHL released an explanation video along with the suspension announcement:
In explaining the suspension, the Department of Player Safety stated “the onus was entirely on Nesterov to avoid the check or, at the very least, minimize it” since McKenzie’s back was to him. Considering Nesterov did neither, that the player was injured and that this was a clear boarding play the league moved forward with the suspension.
It’s the first disciplinary action of any kind for Nesterov. McKenzie was sent back to Dallas for further evaluation by team doctors and placed on IR on Friday.
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