Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot has been suspended for three games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head against Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser.
Jeannot had a hearing on Friday, and his suspension was handed down later in the evening.
The hit happened in the first period when Jeannot appeared to make contact with Boeser’s chin on an open-ice hit after Boeser had passed the puck. The Canucks winger went to the locker room immediately after and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
In a video explanation, the Department of Player Safety said that both elements of an illegal check to the head were satisfied on the play. The two elements are that the head is the main point of contact and that the head contact is avoidable.
Jeannot was assessed a match penalty, which triggered an automatic review by the league.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet had no update on Boeser’s status following the game, but did call the play “dangerous.”
Vancouver went on to beat the Kings 4-2.
The Kings’ next three games come against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, the Calgary Flames on Monday and the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.