Boston Bruins forward David Backes was handed a three-game suspension Wednesday by the NHL Department of Player Safety for his hit on Detroit Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen.

Backes caught Nielsen with a late, high hit in the first period of Tuesday's game and was assessed a two-minute penalty for roughing. Nielsen left the game and did not return.

The NHL Department of Player Safety noted that Backes made substantial contact with Nielsen's head, and the puck was clearly no longer in Nielsen's possession when he laid the hit, leading to the three-game penalty.

This is the first suspension of Backes' 848-game NHL career.

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