The game was essentially over, yet defenceman Jason Demers launched an elbow that has cost him two games.
With fewer than four minutes remaining in the Dallas Stars‘ 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday night, Demers threw an elbow directly to the face of Penguins forward Nick Bonino while protecting the puck in the corner.
Demers was suspended two games Friday after a phone hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety. He was given a five-minute elbowing major and a game misconduct on the play.
“I just went in and tried to counter the hit a little bit too early,” Demers told reporters after the victory. “I hope he’s all right. I wasn’t intending to hit him in the head or anything like that.”
Demers, 27, is off to a solid start this season, posting four points through seven games.
This is Demers’ first suspension or fine in his seven-year career, and it costs him $36,559.14 in salary. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Bonino scored his first goal for the Penguins earlier in the game. He hit the ice, writhed in pain after the elbow and left the game.
Bonino returned to the ice Friday to practise with the Penguins.
Watch player safety’s explanation of the suspension here:
