San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton has been suspended for two games and will forfeit $77,000 in salary for a head hit on St. Louis Blues David Perron.
Thornton was ejected Thursday night after leaving the penalty box and colliding with Perron in the neutral zone. Perron didn’t appear to see Thornton before getting hit.
The NHL announced Friday that Thornton would be fined for the head hit under Rule 48, a rule for illegal checks to the head.
The Sharks’ center feels it wasn’t his fault saying “he just ran into me, to be honest with you.”
There has only been one other player who has been suspended under Rule 48 and that is Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan, who received a three-game ban last month. Two others have received a $2,500 fine for an illegal head hit.
Thornton will be able to return Thursday when the Sharks take on the New York Islanders at home.
