On Sunday afternoon, New Jersey Devils' Paul Cotter received a match penalty for an illegal check to the head against New York Islanders' Adam Pelech.
The incident occurred at the six-minute mark of the second period. Following the hit, a bloody and visibly angry Pelech left the game and did not return.
"That is the kind of hit we don't like," Islanders' head coach Patrick Roy told NewYorkIslanders.com on Sunday. "The kind of hit we don't want to see happen for any team."
Cotter played 5:42 and finished the game with one shot on goal, one blocked shot, and two hits.
Hours after the Devils' 1-0 loss to the Islanders, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Cotter would have a hearing on Monday.
It was announced Monday afternoon that Cotter has been suspended for two games.
New Jersey has two regular-season games remaining before the playoffs. On Tuesday, the team will play the Boston Bruins at TD Garden and host the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday at Prudential Center.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average NHL salary, Cotter will forfeit $8,072.92. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Before his incident, the native of Canton, Michigan, had no prior history with the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
Cotter is concluding his first season with the Devils after being acquired in a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29, 2024, for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid. The 25-year-old has appeared in 79 games for the Devils and has 22 points (16 goals, six assists).