Tootoo suspended two games for hit on Miller

The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday the NHL has suspended Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo two games for his hit on Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller Saturday night.

Late in the second period of Buffalo’s 3-2 win over the Preds, Tootoo drove to the net and crashed into Miller.

Tootoo was given a five-minute major penalty for charging on the play and was handed a game misconduct.

It was Miller’s first game back after spending nine games on the mend with a concussion he sustained when Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic bowled him over on Nov. 12.

Tootoo, who has a history of questionable hits, had a disciplinary hearing with Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s head disciplinarian, on Monday where they discussed this latest incident.

“The last thing I wanted to do was run the goalie over,” Tootoo said after the game.

“I’m skating hard, I drop my shoulder to the net, and clearly I tried to jump out of the way. There was no intent to charge at him.”

The 28-year-old will miss his team’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday, as well as a Dec. 8 game against Columbus. Tootoo is eligible to return on Dec. 10 when the Preds take on the Anaheim Ducks.

The NHL announced that under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, based on his average annual salary, Tootoo will forfeit US$13,513.52, which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

In 2007, Tootoo was suspended five games for a sucker punch on Dallas Stars defenceman Stephane Robidas.

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