The NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog three games for a cross check landed in Wednesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Landeskog cross-checked 6-foot-4 defender Simon Despres in the head during play. No penalty was assessed to Landeskog for the incident.
Despres has already missed a long stretch this season due to a concussion and looked rattled on the play, though he remained in the game.
In their explanation the DoPS acknowledges that Landeskog’s defense was that he wasn’t targeting Despres’s head. However, they note that it remains his responsibility to control his stick.
Landeskog had some history to contend with. He was suspended two games earlier this season for an illegal check to the head of Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand. He was also previously fined.
Landeskog will lose $203,832.75 in salary during his suspension.
Watch the DoPS explanation of the suspension below.
Just as Colorado regains playoff position with a win on Wednesday, they’ll be down a key player. It’s a blow. They looked well-balanced, fast and on their way toward a playoff spot in their 3-0 win over the Ducks, who may be the league’s hottest team at the moment.
Fortunately for Colorado, the three games he’ll miss are against three cellar-dwellers in Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver.
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Featured photo by Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers.
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This post has been updated.