The Edmonton Oilers will be without forward Matt Hendricks for the next week after the NHL handed down a three-game suspension for his hit on Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad on Sunday.
Matt Hendricks suspended 3 games for boarding Aaron Ekblad
This hit went unpenalized in Sunday’s game.
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
The video below from the Department of Player Safety highlights the suspension, which is officially given as a boarding call from the NHL.
The hit in the third period stirred the pot between the two teams as Ekblad not only lost his helmet on the crunching hit, but the play was not given a call on the ice from the officials present. Hendricks led with his elbow and while it wasn’t a headshot, the force of the Oilers forward drove Ekblad into the boards face-first.
The Panthers defenseman came back to finish the game, but was held off from playing Monday night due to concussion protocols and is day-to-day with an upper body injury.
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