The NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended Anaheim Ducks forward Nate Thompson three games for an illegal check to the head of Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk, the DoPS announced on Monday.
The check happened on Friday, but with the Ducks off until Thursday, it gave the DoPS plenty of time to deal with this one and see if a concussion resulted for Faulk.
On the hit, though Faulk is low to the ground, it’s a pretty clear check to the head. The punishment factored in that Faulk wasn’t hurt and finished the game, as well as the fact that Thompson has been suspended once previously.
The three-game suspension will mean that Thompson doesn’t play again until December 22, the last game before the holiday break, against the New York Rangers.
Watch the League’s explanation of the Nate Thompson suspension below.
Thompson has put up two assists through four games this season, averaging 7:56 of ice time. Thompson has only played four games because he missed the first 25 games of the season following offseason surgery to fix two labral tears in his shoulder.
Thompson has played 475 games in his career, spending time with the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Ducks.
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