Tom Sestito suspended four games for hit on Tobias Enstrom

Tobias Enstrom had to head to the dressing room after taking a massive hit against the boards from Tom Sestito.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tom Sestito has been suspended four games for his hit on Winnipeg Jets defenceman Tobias Enstrom.

The hit occurred in the Penguins’s 7-4 win over the Jets on Wednesday.

Ten hours before game time, Sestito was called up from Wilkes-Barre by the Penguins and inserted into the lineup. It was expected to be a heated game with the Jets in a follow-up to their last meeting, and in that sense, it did not disappoint.

Sestito, who sits third in AHL penalty minutes despite playing just 33 games, had a little more than one minute of ice time Wednesday and a grand total of three shifts. On his opening shift, Sestito fought Chris Thorburn. He was on the ice for Evgeni Malkin’s first goal on his second shift, and he boarded Enstrom on his third shift, resulting in a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

After the game, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan talked about putting Sestito into the lineup, saying he was there to provide this kind of sandpaper and physicality — even if he did cross the line on Enstrom.

Enstrom was hospitalized because of the play to be checked for facial fractures.

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