Dec. 24--The NHL on Wednesday hit San Jose Sharks' forward John Scott with a four-game suspension for his blow to the head of Ducks forward Tim Jackman Monday night.
Scott decked Jackman, appearing to knock him briefly unconscious, 8 minutes and 18 seconds into the Ducks' 3-2 overtime victory over their Pacific Division rival at Honda Center.
Jackman skated toward Scott from behind. Scott briefly glanced back, and raised his stick hand backward, striking Jackman on the jaw.
Jackman eventually left the ice with assistance and didn't return to play, receiving medical evaluation. He watched a video replay of Scott's hit afterward, and a Ducks spokesman on Wednesday said Jackman, "because of the nature of the injury," will continue to be monitored.
After the game, Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said he didn't know Scott's intent, and stopped short of calling the hit intentional.
The NHL Department of Player Safety, however, called Scott a "repeat offender," in a statement and attached video explanation, noting he's been suspended twice in the last 14 months and showing he hit Jackman "flush on the chin with his right hand.
"The damage it causes and the fact that Jackman is not expecting it," caused the suspension, a league official said. "It is neither predictable or acceptable ... [it is] illegal and irresponsible."
Scott and Jackman were combatants in the Sharks' penalty marred 4-1 victory over the Ducks in Anaheim on Oct. 26. The teams combined for 165 penalty minutes in that affair.
Scott was dealt a five-minute major penalty for fighting, two minutes for instigating, another five minutes for fighting a 10-minute ejection in the third period of that game for leaving the bench after a brawl broke out.
He was suspended for that action too.
Jackman was also ejected in that game, racking up a five-minute fighting penalty, a minor hooking call and two roughing minors.
Scott will also go unpaid through the suspension, a $34,146.36 hit to the wallet.
