After a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Sunday, Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel has suspended two games for his illegal check to the head of Colorado Avalanche forward Carl Soderberg on Saturday.
Buffalo's Jack Eichel has been suspended for two games for an Illegal Check to the Head on Colorado's Carl Soderberg. https://t.co/azZzem66w5
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 10, 2019
The Sabres captain made the hit in the second period of Buffalo's 3-0 loss to the Avalanche when he initiated contact with Soderberg in the neutral zone, making the head the principal point of contact. The two were going after a loose puck in front of the penalty box when Eichel changed direction to make the hit before playing the puck. While he did not extend his elbow or completely go out of his way to make contact with Soderberg's head, Eichel's still caught him in the head with his shoulder.
— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) March 9, 2019This is the first time Eichel has been suspended in his four-year NHL career. Soderberg did not suffer an injury as a result of the hit, and he did not miss a shift.
Eichel will miss Tuesday's matchup against the Dallas Stars and Thursday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
