Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman has been suspended one pre-season game and one regular-season game for boarding Winnipeg Jets forward Jansen Harkins, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.
The incident occurred during the second period of the Jets’ 3-2 victory over the Flames in Winnipeg on Wednesday night. Harkins was already in a vulnerable position down on his knees on the ice after being tripped when Coleman hit the Jets forward from behind and into the boards.
Coleman received a minor penalty on the play, Harkins left the game for concussion protocol but later returned and the pair received 10-minute misconducts in the third period.
Jets head coach Paul Maurice spoke about the hit after the game.
“It was a pretty solid check into the numbers,” Maurice said. “We’re fortunate that he’s healthy. You don’t want to see anything happen from behind but then it’s hockey again. Everybody’s healthy, away we go, we’re fine. I’m not going to complain about it.”
Coleman signed a six-year deal with the Flames during the summer following back-to-back Stanley Cup victories with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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