Bruins’ David Pastrnak Suspended Two Games For Illegal Check To Head

The NHL’s Department Player of Safety on Friday gave Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi from Wednesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden.

It’s the first suspension for Pastrnak in 104 career NHL games.

The league noted in its suspension video that while Girardi was eligible to be checked on the play, Pastrnak could have avoided a high hit with a lower check to the defenseman’s core.

Here are the “Key Points” from the video.

Pastrnak has scored five goals with three assists in seven games this season. He will miss Boston’s upcoming road games against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday and Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images