Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist has been suspended six games for high-sticking Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.
Gustav Nyquist's six-game suspension will cost him $158,333.33 in salary.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 15, 2017
As the video below shows, Spurgeon knocked Nyquist to the ground with a cross check during a battle for the puck along the boards, and upon getting to his feet, Nyquist jabbed his stick into the defenseman's cheek.
The act was defined as a high stick, and not accidental. Nyquist, however, insisted he was trying to get his stick around Spurgeon in order to deliver a cross check.
But while it was ruled Nyquist didn't intend to catch Spurgeon in the face with his stick, he is still being held accountable for doing so.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
The fact that there was no serious injury on the play, and that it was Nyquist's first offense also factored into the decision.
Nyquist will be eligible to return to the Red Wings lineup on March 4.
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