Daniel Paille Suspended Four Games for Blind-Side Hit on Raymond Sawada

by Michael Hurley on Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 11:56AM

Boston Bruins forward Daniel Paille has been suspended for four games by the NHL, the Bruins announced Friday.

Paille hit Raymond Sawada in the second period of Thursday night’s game against the Stars. Paille was given a match penalty. Sawada suffered a broken nose and separated shoulder, according to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet.ca.

Sawada carried the puck into the Bruins’ end, flanked by Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk and Andrew Ference. With the puck caught in his skates, Sawada had his head down and never saw Paille, who swooped in and laid a high hit on the Stars’ forward.

On the ice, Paille was given a five-minute major penalty for hitting Sawada’s head and a game misconduct.

On Friday, Mike Murphy led a hearing for Paille, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, and the league ruled to suspend the 26-year-old Paille.

Paille has one goal and five assists in 25 games for the Bruins this season.