Colorado Avalanche defenceman Erik Johnson was suspended two games Tuesday by the NHL’s department of player safety for a slash he delivered on New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen Saturday night.
Nielsen sustained a broken hand from the slash, reports Arthur Staple of Newsday.
So Nielsen may be able to play 2/27. More likely he'll miss the first week of #Isles games after Olympic break.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) February 11, 2014
In the third period of the Avalanche’s 5-2 victory, Nielsen was chasing for a loose puck in the Colorado zone when Johnson slashed him hard on the left wrist. Colorado was already killing a penalty at the time. Johnson was dealt a two-minute minor penalty on the play, and the Islanders scored on their 5-on-3 power play.
Johnson will forfeit $38,461.54 in salary while he sits out. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Nielsen himself was fined $5,000 by the NHL back in October for slashing Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal.
