New York Rangers defenseman John Moore received a two-game suspension for his high hit on Montreal Canadiens forward Dale Weise during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.
The two-game ban is the same suspension the league handed down to Habs’ forward Brandon Prust for his similar hit on Rangers forward Derek Stepan, which broke his jaw.
Moore earned a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the open-ice hit that occurred midway through the third period of Montreal’s 7-4 win. The league determined that Moore delivered a check that made Weise’s head the “main point of contact.”
Weise’s helmet flew off on the play, and he was visibly shaken after the hit, although he did return to the game after initially being taken to the dressing room. It has since been reported, however, that Weise suffered a concussion as a result of the hit.
The Rangers lead the best-of-seven series three games to two. Moore will not be eligible for Game 6 Thursday night as well as Game 7 in Montreal or the first game of the Stanley Cup Final.
