NEW YORK – Colorado Avalanche defender Jacob MacDonald was suspended Thursday for two free games for an illegal check on the head of Minnesota striker Wild Ryan Hartman.
The NHL’s safety department said contact was avoided for MacDonald, who approached Hartman in a back control and threw him on the ice with a side kick in the first period of Wednesday’s game in Minnesota.
The song went unpunished, attracting boos from the limited crowd at Xcel Energy Center as the replay was presented on videoboard. MacDonald pointed to his shoulder as he looked at him, seeming to claim that he had cut Hartman there and not his head.
MacDonald has one goal, six assists and an extra 13 in 27 games this season. He will lose $ 12,500 based on his average annual salary.