Minnesota Wild forward Kevin Fiala has been suspended three games for boarding Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Roy on Thursday night, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.
Fiala was ejected from Minnesota's 5-3 win over Los Angeles in the second period after plowing Roy into the boards from behind.
The NHL's explanation said Fiala was "entirely in control of how this play develops," adding "from the time the puck is dumped in, he sees nothing but Roy's numbers."
The league also added "the onus is on Fiala to create a new angle of approach" to either deliver a clean hit, avoid making it, or reduce the amount of contact and minimize the danger.
Officials gave Fiala a five-minute boarding major and a game misconduct.
Roy didn't return to the game, but Kings head coach Todd McLellan said afterward he expected the blue-liner to be able to travel with the club.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.