The National Hockey League announced late Thursday afternoon that St. Louis Blues defenseman Oskar Sundqvist has been suspended one game for a hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelyck in the first period of game two on Wednesday night.
Sundqvist was given a two minute penalty for boarding on the play that included contact to Grzelcyks head, sending the Bruins defenseman to the hospital with a concussion. The NHL department of player safety said Thursday that they would meet for a hearing with Sundqvist regarding the hit, where he was given the one game suspension for game three of a 1-1 series. He has four goals and five assists in 21 playoff games this season, tied with Jay Bouwmeester for best on the team in plus/minus rating with a plus 8. Grzelcyk is in concussion protocol, and isn’t expected to make the trip with the team to St. Louis for games three and four.
This is the fifth suspension of this years playoffs, and the third one involving the Bruins. Torontos Nazem Kadri was suspended the rest of the series for a crosscheck to the face of Bostons Jake Debrusk in game two of their first round series. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was suspended for game one of the East Finals against Carolina for an illegal check to the head of Columbus Blue Jacket Josh Anderson in game six of the second round.
