Edmonton Oilers defenceman Andy Sutton has been handed an eight-game suspension for his hit on Carolina Hurricanes forward Alexei Ponikarovsky.
The NHL’s senior vice-president of player safety, Brendan Shanahan, said it was a clear-cut charge and those looking at the best ice hockey betting should remember this.
The much-travelled 36-year-old was found guilty of “launching himself into the air and making contact with the winger’s head while also propelling it into the glass”.
Sutton is banned until 31st December when the Oilers play the New York Rangers.
Earlier this season, Shanahan suspended James Wisniewski of the Columbus Blue Jackets for eight games.
Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini accepted Sutton’s punishment, saying: “He’s an aggressive player, a big man and he’ll just have to find a way to make sure that he’s aware of the way we’re assessing those types of hit. He’ll be fine once he gets back.”
Sutton has a poor disciplinary record having only recently returned to action after being handed a five-game ban for an illegal hit to the head of Colorado Avalanche rookie Gabriel Landeskog. He was suspended between 30th October and 10th November and has now picked up seven bans during his career.
The Oilers have no immediate plans to recall a defenceman from the Oklahoma City Barons, their American Hockey League affiliate, but that could change depending on the health of Ladislav Smid, who left the recent game against Calgary Flames in the second period with a bloody mouth after being struck in the face by Olli Jokinen’s stick.
Edmonton’s next game is not until Thursday when they take on the Coyotes in Phoenix.