The NHL suspended Hurricanes defenseman Kevin Westgarth for two games on Tuesday for boarding Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki in the first period of Sunday’s game in Carolina.
Westgarth received a minor penalty for boarding, and the hit also caused Borowiecki to leave the game with an injury.
In his video explaining the suspension, Brendan Shanahan of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety said that “Westgarth turns in the direction of Borowiecki, closes on him, and recklessly finishes him from behind into the boards. At no point, from the moment Westgarth changes direction, is Borowiecki ever eligible to be checked.”
This is the first suspension of Westgarth’s career. Carolina is fifth in the Metropolitan division with 23 points, and its next two games are against the New Jersey Devils.
Check out Shanahan’s video below.
Thumbnail photo via @NHLCanes.
