Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton received a match penalty for a high hit that injured New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier on Friday night.
Clifton hit Hischier in the head with his shoulder late in the first period.
Connor Clifton receives a match penalty for this hit to the head on Nico Hischier. pic.twitter.com/Zu06XHvMi1
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 27, 2023
The officials also handed Clifton a fighting major for the aftermath. Devils forward Ondrej Palat got an instigator penalty, a fighting major, and a 10-minute misconduct.
Hischier left the game and sat out the rest of the opening frame but returned in the second period. However, he didn't emerge with the team for the start of the third.
Clifton signed a three-year contract with the Sabres as a free agent at $3.33 million per season on July 1. He played his first five campaigns with the Boston Bruins.
Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.