RALEIGH, N.C. _ After a disciplinary hearing on Friday, David Pastrnak, the Bruins forward who decked Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi with an illegal hit to the head in the second period on Wednesday, has been suspended two games.
The league's Department of Player Safety announced the decision.
The high hit, which was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for what it termed an "illegal check to the head," occurred when Girardi was reaching with his glove for a high puck near the blue line at 10:55 of the period.
Girardi was knocked off his skates, dropped to the ice dazed and went to the dressing room to undergo concussion protocol. Girardi returned and is expected to dress against the Hurricanes on Friday night.
Pastrnak has five goals and three assists in seven games and is tied for 13th in the NHL in scoring. He will miss games against the Red Wings and Panthers. A rematch with the Rangers is on Nov. 5 in Boston.
After Wednesday's game, which the Rangers won 5-2, Girardi said he was in a vulnerable position when struck by Pastrnak.
"I don't see the guy coming ... lucky it wasn't the forehead. I feel good now, that's the only thing that matters," he said.
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said post-game that he had a "specific opinion" on the incident but declined further comment.
