The NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended Philadelphia Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde two games for an illegal check to the head/elbow infraction on Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews.
The hit occurred Wednesday and happened so quickly it could have easily been missed by refs and fans. However, refs caught and gave VandeVelde a minor penalty on the play, and the DoPS caught it and is giving him a couple games rest for his troubles.
The DoPS video shows VandeVelde extending his arm as he approaches Toews along the boards, creating contact between VandeVelde’s forarm and Toews’s head.
In determining the length of his suspension, the league notes that while the play was reckless, it wasn’t predatory. VandeVelde has no prior disciplinary history, and Toews finished the game, suffering no apparent injury.
Watch the DoPS suspension video below.
VandeVelde has two goals and 11 points through 69 games this season. In his six-year NHL career he has played a total of 187 games with a total of 12 goals and 32 points.
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Featured photo by Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers.