New York, NY – The National Hockey League issued a two-game suspension to Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader on Sunday.
Abdelkader was given a major for charging and a game misconduct, after leaving his feet to deliver a hit to the head of Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman late in the second period of Saturday's 4-0 Anaheim victory in Game 3 of a Western Conference quarterfinal.
Lydman left the game and did not return.
"Abdelkader elevates at contact, turning what could have been a hard, full body check into a high, violent check with significant contact to the head that caused an injury," noted Brendan Shanahan, NHL director of player safety in a video explanation of the punishment.
The 26-year-old winger, who has never incurred any previous supplemental discipline, will miss Monday's Game 4 in Detroit and Wednesday's Game 5 back in Anaheim.
Detroit trails the best-of-seven series two games to one.
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