Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog suspended two games for boarding Blackhawks' Kirby Dach
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 in their regular-season opener Wednesday night but also suffered a different type of loss.
On Thursday, the NHL's Department of Player Safety confirmed Colorado forward Gabriel Landeskog has been suspended two games for boarding Chicago forward Kirby Dach in the third period of Wednesday's matchup:
The video explanation on the league's website states Landeskog had more than enough time to recognize Dach was down to a knee and, thus, could've avoided the type of hit he delivered. The speed and force of Landeskog's blow also impacted the league's decision regarding his discipline.
Landeskog was initially assessed a minor penalty for boarding.
According to Sportsnet, Landeskog has been suspended three times but is not considered a "repeat offender" because his last incident occurred more than 18 months ago. Per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Landeskog will lose $70,000. That cash goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Landeskog recorded a goal and an assist in the victory.
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