By ,
Published January 13, 2015
New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - St. Louis Blues forward Maxim Lapierre was suspended for five games, without pay, by the NHL on Friday stemming from a hit on Tuesday that left Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle in a hospital.
Lapierre had been handed an indefinite suspension by the league on Wednesday prior to the Friday's hearing, and missed Thursday's game against Chicago which will count towards the five-game ban.
Lapierre drove his stick into Boyle's upper back, sending him face-first into the glass early in the first period of San Jose's 6-2 win. Boyle remained on the ice for several minutes before he was taken off on a stretcher.
Boyle was kept overnight at a St. Louis hospital but has said he's "OK" after the scary hit. He returned to San Jose on Wednesday and it is unknown when he will return to play.
Lapierre drew a five-minute major for checking from behind, a fighting major after an ensuing altercation and was ejected from the game.
Lapierre was suspended four games in 2010 for a hit on Scott Nichol.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nhl-tags-lapierre-with-5-game-suspension